“plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”
TRUMP LIKE
1h ago
EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he will stay in the top job to maintain continuity and stability in government until a new United Conservative Party leader is chosen.
Kenney says it’s important to remain focused on public priorities, including reducing wait times in the health system and growing the economy.
He made the comments to reporters who were invited in to watch, take photos, and shoot video of his cabinet ministers giving him a standing ovation before the start of their meeting at McDougall Centre in Calgary.
He says the media opportunity was organized to demonstrate his government remains on the job, focused on public priorities.
Kenney did not take questions and has not done so since announcing earlier this week he was quitting as party leader after receiving just 51 per cent support in a party leadership review.
The party has not delivered any details or a timeline on the leadership race, and party rules do not prohibit Kenney from running again.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 20, 2022
PRIVATIZING HEALTH CARE WILL CONTINUE
'Eye on the ball': Kenney says he's focused on health care, economy
Lisa Johnson - 1h ago
Edmonton Journal
Premier Jason Kenney is aiming to portray a government still focused on public priorities in his first comments since caucus announced Thursday he will remain in power until a new leader can be chosen.
© Provided by Edmonton JournalJason Kenney speaks at an event at Spruce Meadows in Calgary on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. During the speech, he announced that he was stepping down as leader of the Alberta UCP party.
On Wednesday Kenney said he intends to resign after a narrow leadership review win, saying 51.4 per cent support was not “adequate.”
Before a Friday morning cabinet meeting that saw ministers offer Kenney a standing ovation, the premier said staying on for the time being will allow for continuity, stability and for his government to focus on the people’s priorities, including revamping the health care system and growing the economy.
“For me, that’s the most important thing. This is a critical time in Alberta’s history. We are determined to keep our eye on the ball,” said Kenney. The premier also reiterated much of his pitch to keep his job from April, touting his government’s progress in passing legislation and continued promotion of the province’s energy sector abroad.
“This is a demonstration that Alberta’s government continues to do the people’s business, continues to fight for this province, to work for a strong economy, to make life better for Albertans,” said Kenney, who has not appeared at a news conference to take questions from reporters since before the results of his leadership review were announced Wednesday night.
The premier’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Postmedia about whether Kenney intends to run in the upcoming leadership race, which is yet to be scheduled by the party.
Kenney has been facing criticism from both inside and outside his party over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations that he has been ignoring the grassroots of the party.
Before entering Thursday’s marathon six-hour caucus meeting , a number of his critics called for Kenney to step aside immediately and allow for an interim leader to step in. Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche UCP MLA Brian Jean, who won a byelection on a campaign to take over Kenney’s job, told reporters he hoped for a new interim leader to be appointed immediately.
“The healing process can’t start until Jason Kenney leaves. He knows that, we know that and we need to start the renewal process of the UCP,” said Jean.
-With files from Dylan Short
More to come…
lijohnson@postmedia.com
Lisa Johnson - 1h ago
Edmonton Journal
Premier Jason Kenney is aiming to portray a government still focused on public priorities in his first comments since caucus announced Thursday he will remain in power until a new leader can be chosen.
© Provided by Edmonton JournalJason Kenney speaks at an event at Spruce Meadows in Calgary on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. During the speech, he announced that he was stepping down as leader of the Alberta UCP party.
On Wednesday Kenney said he intends to resign after a narrow leadership review win, saying 51.4 per cent support was not “adequate.”
Before a Friday morning cabinet meeting that saw ministers offer Kenney a standing ovation, the premier said staying on for the time being will allow for continuity, stability and for his government to focus on the people’s priorities, including revamping the health care system and growing the economy.
“For me, that’s the most important thing. This is a critical time in Alberta’s history. We are determined to keep our eye on the ball,” said Kenney. The premier also reiterated much of his pitch to keep his job from April, touting his government’s progress in passing legislation and continued promotion of the province’s energy sector abroad.
“This is a demonstration that Alberta’s government continues to do the people’s business, continues to fight for this province, to work for a strong economy, to make life better for Albertans,” said Kenney, who has not appeared at a news conference to take questions from reporters since before the results of his leadership review were announced Wednesday night.
The premier’s office did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Postmedia about whether Kenney intends to run in the upcoming leadership race, which is yet to be scheduled by the party.
Kenney has been facing criticism from both inside and outside his party over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and allegations that he has been ignoring the grassroots of the party.
Before entering Thursday’s marathon six-hour caucus meeting , a number of his critics called for Kenney to step aside immediately and allow for an interim leader to step in. Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche UCP MLA Brian Jean, who won a byelection on a campaign to take over Kenney’s job, told reporters he hoped for a new interim leader to be appointed immediately.
“The healing process can’t start until Jason Kenney leaves. He knows that, we know that and we need to start the renewal process of the UCP,” said Jean.
-With files from Dylan Short
More to come…
lijohnson@postmedia.com
Bell: What the hell? Kenney is sticking around until God knows when
Rick Bell - 6h ago
Calgary Sun
Elvis has not left the building.
© Provided by Calgary Sun
Rewind to Wednesday night.
When the 51% Yes vote is announced, Kenney speaks to his diehard supporters.
Cheers! Applause! Whistles! Yahoos!
Kenney tells his fervent followers he will respect the decision of the members.
Cheers! Applause! Yells!
They think he is staying on with 51%!
Kenney says he expects all UCP members to respect the result.
More Cheers! More Applause!
They REALLY think he is staying on with 51%!
And when he tells them he intends to step down as UCP leader and premier …
You can hear them. No! No!
Some cry. Some hang their heads. Someone calls the press “vultures,” because they do not embrace the exalted leader.
The Kenney love-in is reportedly in shock. They think Kenney is gone just like that. Poof! From hero to zero.
Fast forward to the next afternoon.
The wheels in motion.
The vote on Kenney staying on for a yet-to-be-determined time is by secret ballot.
He wins.
The UCP MLAs leave McDougall Centre the back way, avoiding the waiting microphones where questions would be asked and answers would not pass the smell test.
A short statement announcing Kenney’s latest victory goes out from the guy who chairs the UCP MLA chinwags, a guy by the name of Nathan Neudorf.
Kenney writes a letter to the party. He advises them of his intention to resign as leader when there’s a new leader elected.
From now to an unknown when, who knows what will happen?
By the way, the rain stopped. The sun came out briefly. The winds died out.
There was no wind of change.
rbell@postmedia.com
UCP leadership hopefuls jockey for position, disagree over interim head
Rick Bell - 6h ago
Calgary Sun
Elvis has not left the building.
© Provided by Calgary Sun
Jason Kenney speaks at an event at Spruce Meadows in Calgary on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
In fact, no one knows when Elvis is leaving the building.
For that matter, no one will tell us if Elvis will be leaving the building.
The show is not over.
Maybe you are one of those folks who thought Premier Jason Kenney was headed out the door.
Maybe you thought the UCP MLAs would choose an interim leader and that interim leader would serve as premier until a permanent leader was chosen and the UCP would get on with the job of digging themselves out of the political ditch.
Maybe you are one of those folks who actually truly believed the premier was stepping down sooner rather than later and he would no longer be the story and this would benefit the UCP because they could get a fresh start with only a year before the next election.
On the morning after the Wednesday night when only 51% of party members supported Kenney , UCP MLAs descended upon Calgary’s McDougall Centre, the premier’s southern Alberta HQ.
The MLAs were scheduled to figure out their next moves.
The Kenney folks had hoped the gabfest would be about arm-twisting UCP MLAs to follow the leader or else.
That didn’t happen because Kenney had only half the party on his side.
Instead, there was Kenney supposedly bound for the exit and talk of which individual could stand in as premier until a new leader took over. There were UCP MLAs actively seeking the gig.
There was some talk of how the UCP had to get their act together after Kenney.
Alas, in most cases, what the UCP MLAs coughed up as their ideas wasn’t worth the oxygen.
It was as if Kenney’s loyal soldiers were still waiting for the premier and his devoted minions to provide the officially-approved empty-calorie talking points suitable for regurgitation.
Outside, the mercury dropped, the clouds gathered, the rain fell, the winds blew.
Were they the winds of change? We could hope.
Inside the building, the UCP politicians talked and talked and talked and talked.
It was clear there was a push for the premier to stay until a new leader was elected.
There were those who still support Kenney.
There were those who don’t want to shake things up. They’ve got it good under Kenney.
They enjoy things the way they are. They’re looking out for number one.
One or two who might have plans to succeed Kenney did the suck-up Thursday, no doubt trying to curry favour with the premier’s loyalists.
Of course, there were others who believed kicking Kenney’s departure down the road would do more harm than good.
The show would go on. Kenney would remain a distraction. It would be the same old song and dance.
Someone on the outside looking in said Kenney couldn’t even resign without stepping on a rake.
People in the outside world, beyond the UCP circus, would be puzzled.
What the hell? Isn’t Kenney supposed to be gone?
Besides, Kenney did not have the backing of half his party.
But those who are on the premier’s team have a hell of a lot of skin in the game and they assemble their arguments.
Kenney passed the leadership review. Sure it was only 51%. Sure it wasn’t the 70% the out-of-touch inhabitants of the Kenney cocoon figured.
But 51% is technically a win. He doesn’t have to leave. He can leave when he wants. He is still the boss.
In fact, no one knows when Elvis is leaving the building.
For that matter, no one will tell us if Elvis will be leaving the building.
The show is not over.
Maybe you are one of those folks who thought Premier Jason Kenney was headed out the door.
Maybe you thought the UCP MLAs would choose an interim leader and that interim leader would serve as premier until a permanent leader was chosen and the UCP would get on with the job of digging themselves out of the political ditch.
Maybe you are one of those folks who actually truly believed the premier was stepping down sooner rather than later and he would no longer be the story and this would benefit the UCP because they could get a fresh start with only a year before the next election.
On the morning after the Wednesday night when only 51% of party members supported Kenney , UCP MLAs descended upon Calgary’s McDougall Centre, the premier’s southern Alberta HQ.
The MLAs were scheduled to figure out their next moves.
The Kenney folks had hoped the gabfest would be about arm-twisting UCP MLAs to follow the leader or else.
That didn’t happen because Kenney had only half the party on his side.
Instead, there was Kenney supposedly bound for the exit and talk of which individual could stand in as premier until a new leader took over. There were UCP MLAs actively seeking the gig.
There was some talk of how the UCP had to get their act together after Kenney.
Alas, in most cases, what the UCP MLAs coughed up as their ideas wasn’t worth the oxygen.
It was as if Kenney’s loyal soldiers were still waiting for the premier and his devoted minions to provide the officially-approved empty-calorie talking points suitable for regurgitation.
Outside, the mercury dropped, the clouds gathered, the rain fell, the winds blew.
Were they the winds of change? We could hope.
Inside the building, the UCP politicians talked and talked and talked and talked.
It was clear there was a push for the premier to stay until a new leader was elected.
There were those who still support Kenney.
There were those who don’t want to shake things up. They’ve got it good under Kenney.
They enjoy things the way they are. They’re looking out for number one.
One or two who might have plans to succeed Kenney did the suck-up Thursday, no doubt trying to curry favour with the premier’s loyalists.
Of course, there were others who believed kicking Kenney’s departure down the road would do more harm than good.
The show would go on. Kenney would remain a distraction. It would be the same old song and dance.
Someone on the outside looking in said Kenney couldn’t even resign without stepping on a rake.
People in the outside world, beyond the UCP circus, would be puzzled.
What the hell? Isn’t Kenney supposed to be gone?
Besides, Kenney did not have the backing of half his party.
But those who are on the premier’s team have a hell of a lot of skin in the game and they assemble their arguments.
Kenney passed the leadership review. Sure it was only 51%. Sure it wasn’t the 70% the out-of-touch inhabitants of the Kenney cocoon figured.
But 51% is technically a win. He doesn’t have to leave. He can leave when he wants. He is still the boss.
Rewind to Wednesday night.
When the 51% Yes vote is announced, Kenney speaks to his diehard supporters.
Cheers! Applause! Whistles! Yahoos!
Kenney tells his fervent followers he will respect the decision of the members.
Cheers! Applause! Yells!
They think he is staying on with 51%!
Kenney says he expects all UCP members to respect the result.
More Cheers! More Applause!
They REALLY think he is staying on with 51%!
And when he tells them he intends to step down as UCP leader and premier …
You can hear them. No! No!
Some cry. Some hang their heads. Someone calls the press “vultures,” because they do not embrace the exalted leader.
The Kenney love-in is reportedly in shock. They think Kenney is gone just like that. Poof! From hero to zero.
Fast forward to the next afternoon.
The wheels in motion.
The vote on Kenney staying on for a yet-to-be-determined time is by secret ballot.
He wins.
The UCP MLAs leave McDougall Centre the back way, avoiding the waiting microphones where questions would be asked and answers would not pass the smell test.
A short statement announcing Kenney’s latest victory goes out from the guy who chairs the UCP MLA chinwags, a guy by the name of Nathan Neudorf.
Kenney writes a letter to the party. He advises them of his intention to resign as leader when there’s a new leader elected.
From now to an unknown when, who knows what will happen?
By the way, the rain stopped. The sun came out briefly. The winds died out.
There was no wind of change.
rbell@postmedia.com
UCP leadership hopefuls jockey for position, disagree over interim head
 |
| SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH |
Jason Kenney to remain Alberta premier until new UCP leader chosen by party
Yesterday 7:05 p.m.
The Canadian Press
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, one day after announcing he was stepping down for the good of his United Conservative Party, will stay on until a new leader is chosen.
UCP caucus chair Nathan Neudorf said members met Thursday and decided that Kenney should remain in the top job for now.
“The United Conservative caucus had a vigorous discussion and debate about the future of our party and our government,” Neudorf said in a statement following an all-day meeting at McDougall Centre in Calgary.
“We agreed that we must remain united, focused on the best interests of Albertans and committed to doing the job Albertans elected us to do.
“In that spirit, we have affirmed Premier Jason Kenney’s continued leadership of our caucus and government until such time as a new leader is chosen, the timing of which will be determined by the United Conservative Party.”
Kenney did not issue a statement or speak to reporters but tweeted out a letter he sent to the UCP stating he will step down once a new leader is picked.
No caucus members came out to talk to the media after the meeting.
Earlier Thursday, some of Kenney’s caucus critics called for him to step down immediately to help heal divisions wracking the party.
“The healing process can’t start until Jason Kenney leaves. He knows that. We know that and we need to start the renewal process of the UCP," said backbencher Brian Jean.
Leela Aheer, who was kicked out of Kenney’s cabinet last year after criticizing him for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, said: “You need a team player who is going to bring folks together, because there has obviously been a lot of division.”
Todd Loewen, a former UCP backbencher voted out of caucus a year ago for openly demanding Kenney resign, said the decision to keep Kenney on is a slap in the face to the thousands of party members who voted for party renewal in the leadership review.
“This is the Jason Kenney Party. This is the JKP,” said Loewen.
“He remains in control of the party even though members rejected him.”
Kenney announced his departure Wednesday night after receiving 51 per cent support in a mail-in ballot of party members. The total was enough for him to technically stay in the job, but Kenney said it was not enough to maintain confidence and quell disharmony in the ranks.
His press secretary, Justin Brattinga, said shortly after that Kenney would remain as party boss until an interim leader was chosen.
Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley said Kenney is now officially a caretaker leader, further delaying crucial work on issues that matter to Albertans, such as health care and long waiting lists in hospitals.
“The drama and the infighting that has plagued this UCP is not over,” said Notley. “(Kenney’s resignation) is the starting gun for more chaos and more distraction.”
Kenney is the fourth conservative Alberta premier in the last 16 years to step down following a low endorsement vote from party members.
Former Progressive Conservative premiers Ralph Klein and Ed Stelmach stayed on as caretaker premiers until new leaders were picked. Alison Redford quit immediately, and caucus chose Dave Hancock as interim leader until Jim Prentice was selected as a permanent replacement.
Kenney has said anger from party and caucus members over decisions he made to limit personal liberties during the COVID-19 pandemic ignited the anger against him and led to the underwhelming vote of support in the review.
Opponents have said the dissatisfaction was not just over COVID-19 policies but also over Kenney's management style, which they deemed to be top-down, dismissive and undemocratic.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2022.
Dean Bennett and Colette Derworiz, The Canadian Press
