Bell: Smith loss 'almost impossible' — the last UCP member poll

Rick Bell - 6h ago


A week to go.


UCP leadership candidate Danielle Smith speaks at a campaign rally in Chestermere on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.© Provided by Calgary Sun

It’s not impossible.

It’s “almost impossible.” It’s “extremely difficult” for anybody to catch UCP leadership frontrunner Danielle Smith.

So says Hamish Marshall of ONE Persuasion.

He headed up the latest nose-count of the race where the winner next week becomes UCP leader and premier.

It is the last poll of this kind, unless some candidate has numbers stuffed in their back pocket.

It is a nose-count commissioned by the camp of UCP leadership frontrunner Danielle Smith.

It is a survey of 1,603 souls from the actual UCP membership list and the results came out of the field Tuesday.

As your scribbler always says, you can take it or leave it.

It might be in the ballpark of reality Oct. 6.

Or there could be a big surprise and the so-called smart money will lose their shirts.

So let’s go.

First, a real big number everybody has wanted to see.

Of those polled, 84.6% have voted.

That’s more than four out of five.

Of those who have already voted, it’s Smith 45%. Travis Toews 28%. Brian Jean 11%. Rebecca Schulz 6%. Todd Loewen 5%, and Leela Aheer and Rajan Sawhney with lower percentages.

The first choice for all decided voters is almost the same. Smith 45%. Toews 27.5%. Jean 11.5%. Schulz 6.1%. Loewen 6%, with Aheer and Sawhney further behind.

Now some people have asked, so your scribbler asks.

Could there be some kind of surprise where someone overtakes Smith when leadership candidates drop out of the race and the second choices of their supporters are counted?

Marshall, who ran the leadership campaign of former federal Conservative boss Andrew Scheer, points out Smith’s first round support is so high the finish line is not far away.

Bell: Danielle Smith, can she beat Rachel Notley? More numbers

Bell: Shandro's Sovereignty Act Lite on Ottawa gun grab, say what?!

UCP leadership hopefuls show united front against Smith's Sovereignty Act

The poll does look at candidate second choices for leader.

Aheer and Sawhney numbers are low.

Related video: Who were the winners and losers of the final UCP leadership debate?


Who were the winners and losers of the final UCP leadership debate?

Aheer’s seconds go to Toews and Jean more than Smith.

Sawhney’s number twos go to Toews and Jean slightly more than Smith.

Half of Loewen’s second choices go to Smith.

Half of Schulz’s second choices go to Toews.

It’s not enough to derail Smith.

Marshall says if the frontrunner was at lower than 40% on the first ballot, maybe even lower than 35%, then it could be different story.

Marshall says by Round 5 of the balloting Smith will be at 51.2%, Toews at 34.1% and Jean at 14.7%.

Even if it was just Smith against Toews, Smith would still win. She just doesn’t need much to get 50% plus one.

As for the Sovereignty Act, 54% of UCP members polled back it and don’t want to give Ottawa an inch.

Another 15.7% support the proposed new law for “Ottawa’s most egregious violations of the constitution.”

A little more than six out of 10 members polled agree with changing the province’s human rights law to prohibit discrimination of those choosing not to get a COVID shot or booster.

Just wait. There is a second poll by the same outfit, with 750 adult Albertans counted.

This is the general public.

It’s from mid-September.

The horse race. UCP 44.6%. NDP 39.8%. The rest are other parties.

On the Sovereignty Act, Albertans are less enthusiastic backers of the Smith brainwave than UCP members.

Fewer than half, 40.8%, support the Sovereignty Act in some circumstances.

Almost a third, that’s 31.7%, need to know more before deciding.

“Should Danielle Smith become premier she’s got an opportunity to sell the idea to Albertans,” says nose-counter Marshall.

On whether Alberta’s human rights law should be changed so it would be illegal to discriminate against the unvaccinated, 41.2% say Yes.

Again, different numbers than the UCP membership.

“It’s not a giant surprise UCP members are generally more libertarian than the public as a whole,” says the pollster.

Then, last but surely not least, the nose-counter decides to have the top three leadership candidates square off against NDP leader Rachel Notley.

One against one. A different question than the poll in the last column.

This number crunch finds Notley 50.9%. Jean 49.1%

Notley 53.2%. Toews 46.8%.

Notley 50.2%. Smith 49.8%.

Here’s what the collector of the political math sees.

“When push comes to shove, as what happens in an election, non-NDP voters are happy to consolidate around whoever the UCP leader is.”

Some would beg to differ. Some within the UCP. Some talking in coffee shops right now.

Jean is not waving the white flag.

He’s telling UCP members Notley is planning for her election win knowing Smith is the UCP leader less likely to defeat her.

Jean’s camp says Notley wants to take on Smith and the NDP know what buttons to push and won’t be as gentle on Smith as everyone in the UCP leadership race has been.

Well, in a few days, if Smith wins, we’ll all get a chance to see if that’s true.

rbell@postmedia.com

ALBERTA ELECTION

NEW POLL SAME AS OLD POLL

New poll shows tight race between NDP and UCP in Calgary: Angus Reid

Bill Macfarlane
CTV News Calgary Video Journalist
Updated May 17, 2023



A new poll shows a statistical dead heat in Calgary, and the final results are likely to determine which party forms government May 30th.

The poll found 49 per cent of Calgary voters intend to vote for the NDP in the coming election, while 46 per cent planned to vote UCP.

The poll was conducted between May 12 and 16 as a random sample of 1374 Angus Reid Forum members. It is considered accurate plus or minus three percentage points 19 times out of 20.

The close race tends to favour the UCP.

"It really comes down to the NDP has to have the election of its lifetime in Edmonton and the election of its lifetime in Calgary to be in a position to form government," said Shachi Kurt, president of Angus Reid Institute.

"The challenge is that young people do not vote with the same level of turnout as older people," Kurl says. "So we're seeing a big age skew here. Younger people skewing NDP, older people skewing UCP."

TIGHT VICTORY BRINGS CHALLENGES: MAR

Gary Mar is a former PC cabinet minister and held a number of foreign diplomatic posts. He is now president and CEO of Canada West Foundation, a non-partisan think tank.

He says no matter who wins the most seats, a tight victory could bring its own challenges.

"Regardless of who becomes the premier of Alberta, they may face one of the largest oppositions ever in the history of the province," Mar says. "It'll also have a big impact on how you run your caucus."

"If you've got a small majority, four or five people within your own caucus, could say, look, there's something that you're not paying enough attention to. So you gotta pay attention to us. Otherwise, we'll withdraw our support for your majority vote in the legislature on the main agenda that you want to deal with."

The Angus Reid Poll also showed that both leaders have seen a slip in reputation over the past two weeks. It found 41 per cent of people had a worsening view of UCP leader Danielle Smith, while 32 per cent felt that way about NDP leader Rachel Notley.

PERCEPTION BECOMING REALITY

Kurl says public perception of the leaders is becoming baked in and unlikely to shift substantially down the stretch.

Notley perceived as more trustworthy leader, but Smith's UCP closing party support gap: Leger poll

Story by Matthew Black • May 4, 2023

Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley in Calgary at the beginning of the 2023 Alberta provincial election on May 1.© Provided by Edmonton Journal

Albertans perceive NDP leader Rachel Notley to be more honest, transparent, and trustworthy compared to UCP leader Danielle Smith, according to a new Leger poll that also shows the race between the two parties remains tight amid the opening week of the campaign.

When asked who was the most honest and transparent leader, the poll found 37 per cent favoured Notley to 23 per cent who favoured Smith.

Similarly, 38 per cent indicated Notley was the most trustworthy leader compared to 28 for Smith.

Twenty-nine per cent of respondents said they didn’t know in response to both questions.

That 14-point different on questions of honesty and trustworthiness was the shared second-largest gap between the two leaders, according to survey responses, behind Notley’s 18-point lead in response to which leader will work constructively with the federal government.

Smith has faced recent questions about her apparent reversals on prior comments regarding private health care , subsidized child care , and provincial funding for a new NHL arena .

More recently, she has also been asked about a video from last year that resurfaced this week where she cheered on the blockade at the Coutts border crossing as a “win” that could prompt the end of vaccine mandates.

When asked on Corus radio Wednesday about her changing positions, Smith said she was then talking as a political pundit and not as the premier or party leader.

Related

Alberta election 2023: The Edmonton area ridings to watch

Braid: The UCP's quest for public amnesia over Danielle Smith's opinions and positions

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cbc.ca Smith defends UCP health plans in Alberta after protesters interrupt event

4:23

“I like to explore ideas. I like to talk to people about a wide range of issues,” she said.

“When you’re in government, it’s different.”

In her first official campaign speech Monday, Notley took aim at Smith’s changes of heart.

“Even if you don’t always agree with me on everything, you know me and what you know is that I say what I mean and I mean what I say,” said Notley.

The Leger poll surveyed 1,000 paid panelists between April 28 to May 1, with the number of respondents split roughly evenly between metro Edmonton, metro Calgary and the rest of Alberta.

Leger states that as the poll was a non-random internet survey, a margin of error is not reported.

The survey also shows that as the campaign approaches the end of its first week, the gap between the two front-running parties has narrowed.

The NDP have a small lead province-wide among decided voters, according to the poll, with 45 per cent support compared to 43 per cent for the UCP.

The data indicates that the NDP’s lead has progressively shrank from four per cent in February and three per cent in March.

Prior election numbers indicate the result of the election may come down to a number of Calgary ridings.

In that region, respondents equally believed Smith or Notley would make the best premier, the poll shows, with each leader receiving support in 28 per cent of replies, while 22 per cent said they didn’t know.

About 11 per cent of decided voters who were surveyed indicated support for a party other than the UCP or NDP, led by the Alberta Party (4 per cent) and the Liberal Party (3 per cent).

The election is scheduled for May 29 with advanced voting open between May 23 and 27.

mblack@postmedia.com
Twitter @ByMatthewBlack

Alberta's NDP and UCP deadlocked as campaign officially begins: poll

Alberta's election campaign trail: A look at Day 2

Tight race for the Alberta election: poll

Melissa Gilligan
CTVNewsCalgary.ca 

Digital Journalist
Updated May 2, 2023

A new poll suggests Alberta's UCP and NDP are locked in a dead heat as the political parties seek support in the upcoming provincial election.

The writ dropped Monday and Albertans head to the polls May 29, though both parties have been unofficially campaigning for weeks. Follow full election coverage on Alberta Votes 2023

A poll released by ThinkHQ Public Affairs Inc. on Tuesday indicates that if a provincial election were held today, 46 per cent of decided voters would vote for the NDP while another 46 per cent of decided voters would vote for the UCP.


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The poll found 13 per cent of Alberta voters are undecided.

"This province-wide parity between the NDP and UCP has been a feature of our provincial tracking for over six months, with several regional variances also largely locked into place," ThinkHQ noted in a release.

According to the survey, the NDP hold a "sizeable" lead in the Edmonton census metropolitan area (CMA), with 57 per cent support from decided voters compared to 33 per cent supporting the UCP.

A new poll from ThinkHQ suggests Alberta's UCP and NDP are locked in a dead-heat as the pair seek support in the upcoming provincial election. (ThinkHQ)Meanwhile, in the Calgary CMA, decided voters are virtually tied, with 47 per cent saying they'd vote NDP and 46 per cent saying they'd vote UCP.

Outside of the province's two largest cities, support for the UCP outranks the NDP; the survey suggests the UCP have support from at least 20 per cent more decided voters than the NDP in the north, central and south regions of the province.

"We know that the NDP are going to do well in Edmonton, likely even picking up a few seats in the surrounding region," said ThinkHQ president Marc Henry.

"Meanwhile, the UCP are going to win, by large margins, in many areas outside of the two largest cities.”

ThinkHQ noted in its release that Calgary will be the "real battleground" for the election.

"The UCP have a slightly easier path to victory than the NDP, but it’s really going to boil down to about a dozen toss-up and leaning ridings, many of which are in Calgary,” it said.

"This is going to be a very interesting election.”

ThinkHQ also noted "significant" gender and generational gaps in voter support in Alberta, saying women and younger voters showed a "distinct preference" for the NDP, while men and those over the age of 55 offered a similar inclination toward the UCP.

The report from ThinkHQ was compiled through an online survey of 1,529 random adult Albertans through Angus Reid between April 25 and 29. The margin of error for a comparable probability-based random sample of this size is +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

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MORE BAD NEWS FOR UCP AS POLL BY LEGER SHOWS NDP LEADING IN EDMONTON, CALGARY AND EVEN RURAL ALBERTA


ALBERTA PREMIER JASON KENNEY WAS TRYING TO SHORE UP THE UNITED CONSERVATIVE PARTY’S RURAL BASE IN STRATHMORE, EAST OF CALGARY, YESTERDAY (PHOTO: TWITTER/JASON KENNEY).

Alberta Politics
DAVID CLIMENHAGA
POSTED ON AUGUST 01, 2021, 

Another poll by a respectable pollster suggests that if an Alberta provincial election were held today Rachel Notley’s New Democratic Party would triumph handily over Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party.

This is starting to look like a trend.



NDP Opposition Leader Rachel Notley (Photo: David J. Climenhaga).

Such an election won’t be held today, of course, so everyone can stop hyperventilating.

Still, if I were a member of Premier Kenney’s strategic brain trust, I would be worrying about the results of the online poll by Leger that were revealed yesterday by Postmedia’s newspapers.

Postmedia, which is not really a very respectable news organization nowadays, has a partnership with Leger to release these surveys from time to time. Given Postmedia’s often undisguised partisanship for Conservative causes, it must have just about killed its executives to publish such results. Still, to their credit, they did. Some vestigial instinct to practice traditional journalism must have gotten the better of them.

The results are pretty dreary from the UCP’s perspective – at least as long as Mr. Kenney remains at the helm. They are a different matter for Ms. Notley, of course, the Opposition leader and former premier of Alberta.

According to the pollster, 39 per cent of Albertans now support the NDP, compared to 29 per cent still clinging to the wreckage of the UCP.

More than half the 1,377 Albertans who responded to the pollster’s questions between July 22 and 26 thought the province was headed in the wrong direction. Only a quarter gave the direction the province was heading as being the right one.


The NDP led in all parts of the province, even among the UCP’s rural base. Its support was overwhelming – 45 per cent of committed voters, compared to the UCP’s 28 per cent – in the Edmonton region.


Leger Executive Vice-President, Western Canada, Ian Large (Photo: Leger).

The NDP also has the committed support of most younger voters, polls very strongly among women, and leads quite strongly among men. Only the geezers – present company excepted, of course – seem to still support the UCP.

The timing of the poll, obviously, means Leger’s questions were posed before the Kenney Government announced its effective surrender to the coronavirus and its decision to stop collecting statistics about COVID-19 that might make it look bad, or requiring anyone with symptoms of the disease to get tested or self-isolate.

Friday’s announcement could well turn out to be the moment when very large numbers of Albertans decide the direction in which their province is heading is actually now at that point of the compass commonly known as “going to hell in a handbasket.”

This, in turn, may make Leger’s poll a complementary development to Elections Alberta’s revelation at the end of last week that the NDP raised more than twice as much in contributions as the UCP did in both the second quarter and the first half of 2021.

Those spending decisions by politically alert Albertans were also made before anyone knew what their UCP Government was going to do on the COVID file.


Independent MLA Drew Barnes (Photo: David J. Climenhaga).

Naturally, Postmedia’s coverage tried hard to find a silver lining for the UCP in this cloudy forecast. “NDP has wide lead on UCP, but many Albertans aren’t fully committed: poll,” said the Calgary Herald’s headline, a little wistfully.

Political columnist Don Braid quoted Leger Western Canada VP Ian Large saying “there’s lots of potentially good news for the UCP” upcoming – included in his calculus was the Trans Mountain Pipeline that’s being built thanks to the efforts of Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Lorne Gunter, another right-wing Postmedia columnist (is there any other kind?) made some sound points. To wit: that committed UCP support is actually up, just not as much as committed NDP support, and that Mr. Kenney needs to shore up support with the party’s far right.

My guess is the UCP’s lunatic fringe – tempted by a smorgasbord of fringy separatist parties and infected by the Q-virus from south of the Medicine Line – will already be pretty happy with Friday’s announcement of the government’s new COVID policy.

So if that doesn’t work, there’s probably not much more Mr. Kenney can do to win them back and get them contributing again – short of welcoming back rebel MLA Drew Barnes from exile, anyway. (Wait for it — Ed.)

Meanwhile, a majority of Albertans appear to think the new COVID policy actually is lunacy. However, we’ll need to see some polling on that issue from someone to know if that is really true.

The UCP does have a long time to get its mojo back, and still could.

Mr. Kenney, though, really seems to have a talent for doing things that infuriate large groups of voters. So it wouldn’t necessarily be a good bet at this point to put money on the proposition Mr. Kenney won’t continue to mess right up to the next election in 2023, or whenever it ends up being called.

UCP Caucus press release played fast and loose with truth about MLA’s support

Alert readers will recall how a couple of weeks ago, Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn was welcomed back into the UCP Caucus after a short sojourn on the independent benches as punishment for ignoring his constituents 140-some kilometres north of the fleshpots of Edmonton.


Lesser Slave Lake UCP MLA Pat Rehn (Photo: Facebook/Pat Rehn).

Mr. Rehn, who had also been caught holidaying in Mexico as the pandemic raged over the Christmas holiday, had learned to behave himself since Premier Kenney cast him into outer political darkness, Caucus Chair Nathan Neudorf said in mid-July in a press release.

“The United Conservative Caucus was presented with letters of support – including from several municipalities and the Lesser Slave Lake Constituency Association – requesting Rehn be allowed to rejoin caucus,” Mr. Neudorf’s release said. (Emphasis added.)

Now, thanks to the reporting of South Peace News editor Chris Clegg in High Prairie, we know that claim wasn’t strictly true.

Actually, it turns out, no municipalities in the riding expressed any support for Mr. Rehn’s return, Mr. Clegg informed his readers on Wednesday.

“The Town of Slave Lake, Town of High Prairie, M.D. of Lesser Slave River, Big Lakes County and Northern Sunrise County, all deny they wrote letters of support,” Mr. Clegg reported.

There were some letters of support from individual councillors – one of whom, oddly, wrote on the letterhead of the Church of the Nazarene — but none of them acted in their role as council members.

Poll suggests fighting Ottawa is a political winner for Danielle Smith and the UCP

IT'S WORKED SINCE THE DIRTY THIRTIES UNDER BIBLE BILL ABERHART AND SOCIAL CREDIT ONE PARTY RULE TILL 1970

CBC
Wed, May 29, 2024 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Ottawa last year. A new CBC News poll finds that standing up to the federal government matters a lot to Albertans who approve of the governing UCP. (Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press - image credit)


EDITOR'S NOTE: CBC News commissioned this public opinion research in April, leading into the first anniversary of the United Conservative Party's general election win last May. The poll offers insight into how Albertans feel about Danielle Smith's UCP government and the Opposition NDP.

As with all polls, this one provides a snapshot in time.

This analysis is one in a series of articles from this research.


Danielle Smith's critics often charge the Alberta premier's constant battle with Ottawa wastes time and resources, ignores federal benefits and even backfires.

But it works from a purely political perspective — keeping United Conservative (UCP) supporters happy — according to recent CBC News polling.

"There is a real close tie between being satisfied with how the UCP government is dealing with the federal government and liking the government," said Janet Brown, who conducted the survey for CBC News.

Using a statistical analysis that estimates the relationships between policy and supporting the government, CBC's polling data predicts what issues drive overall support for the governing UCP.

Imagine all the polling data flowing through statistical software simultaneously to mathematically sort out the most meaningful — or statistically significant — issues driving satisfaction with the provincial government. The modelling reveals which issues predict the overall approval of the UCP government.

Despite the sustained controversy surrounding invoking its contentious Sovereignty Act to beat back federal clean energy regulation, floating an unpopular Alberta-only pension plan and establishing a provincial police force, analysis of the polling shows that standing up to the federal government matters a lot in the minds of Albertans who strongly or somewhat approve of the governing UCP. After honesty, it's the second biggest issue predicting support for the UCP.

Smith's constant barrage against Ottawa is a winning issue with UCP supporters, helping the governing party keep the support it had among Alberta voters last May and underscoring the good news in the poll for the governing party.

Despite a modest approval rating of 4.5 out of 10 among Alberta voters, Smith's aggressive stance against Ottawa keeps her core supporters happy.

Historically, wrestling with Ottawa works

Alberta's political leaders have waged an unrelenting war on the federal government for generations, with the most effective premiers acting as "guardians against a marauding federal government."

This political posturing works because it turns the federal government into a scapegoat, hides provincial problems such as health care and sidelines the opposition.

The notorious National Energy Program (NEP) showdown over Alberta's energy wealth in the early 1980s sparked an upswing of Western separatism and a rancorous political battle between Alberta and the feds.

Former Alberta premier Ralph Klein was a proponent of equalization as a singular program, but he opposed equalizing other federal transfers based on need.

In battling with Ottawa, Smith is following in the steps of other Alberta premiers, including Ralph Klein. (John Ulan/The Canadian Press)

Ottawa wanted a piece of Alberta's oil wealth to help cushion the pinch of inflation.

But premier Peter Lougheed pushed back, cutting oil production by 15 per cent, tightening the supply to the rest of the country.

Fast-forward a quarter century. A different Alberta premier — this time, Ralph Klein — echoed Lougheed, telling the federal Liberals to keep their "hands off" Alberta's ballooning oil revenues.

Smith vs. Ottawa

The rinse-and-repeat cycle of Edmonton and Ottawa clashing over rights and resources persists today, with Smith making it the signature feature of her political rhetoric.

The radio call-in host turned politician came to power proclaiming, "We need less Ottawa in our lives."

While heralding the expansion of the federally owned Trans Mountain pipeline as a "game changer" that triples the flow of Alberta's oil to tidewater, critics have called out Smith for burying her thanks to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in her public pronouncements.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary on Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Calgary in March. Smith's constant barrage against Ottawa is a winning issue with UCP supporters. (Todd Korol/The Canadian Press)

On top of the UCP's Sovereignty Act, the centrepiece of Smith's attack on federal intrusion, the UCP introduced legislation this year to counter — even veto — deals Alberta municipalities strike with the federal government for money for transit and affordable housing.

Also this spring, the ruling UCP proposed plans to vet federal research grants to Alberta universities.

When the federal government announced plans last December to cut methane emissions from the oil-and-gas sector by three-quarters by 2030, Smith blasted the proposal as "dangerous and unconstitutional."

Earlier this month, the UCP similarly called changes to the federal Impact Assessment Act "unconstitutional," threatening to challenge the legislation in court.

While her critics decry Smith's supercharged, anti-Ottawa rhetoric, the CBC News poll suggests that UCP supporters like the premier's tough stance.

Leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre rises in response to the Speaker asking him to withdraw language during Question Period, Tuesday, April 30, 2024 in Ottawa.

Standing up to Ottawa becomes considerably more 'complex' for the UCP should Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre's party win the next election. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)

Standing up to Ottawa is strongly correlated with overall support for the UCP. Voters who strongly or somewhat support the governing party's handling of Ottawa are 44 per cent more likely to approve of the government overall.

But Smith's heated rhetoric could be a disappointment to Albertans if, as polls suggest, Canadians fire Justin Trudeau's Liberals next year.

Bashing Ottawa works now — but might not in the future

Alberta conservatives tend to get a political boost from beating up on Ottawa when the Liberals run the federal government.

Polls suggest the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, is on track to win a majority.

The "menace becomes less menacing" with conservatives in charge in both Ottawa and Edmonton.

Alberta premiers such as Don Getty and Jim Prentice found it challenging to get Alberta voters to blame Ottawa for the Prairie province's sluggish economy with a conservative government in power federally.

Standing up to Ottawa becomes less politically potent potentially and considerably more "complex" for the UCP with a Conservative federal government, said University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young.

"It will be interesting to see how the Smith government adapts to that change and whether they're able to maintain that sense that they are looking out for Alberta's rights when they don't have … the foil of Justin Trudeau in Ottawa," added Young.

If the polls are correct, Smith could face a Conservative prime minister for nearly two years before heading back to the polls in the fall of 2027.

The CBC News random survey of 1,200 Albertans was conducted using a hybrid method between May 1 and 15 by Edmonton-based Trend Research under the direction of Janet Brown Opinion Research. The sample is representative of regional, age and gender factors. The margin of error is +/- 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. For subsets, the margin of error is larger.

The survey used a hybrid methodology that involved contacting survey respondents by telephone and giving them the option of completing the survey at that time, at another more convenient time, or receiving an email link and completing the survey online. Trend Research contacted people using a random list of numbers, consisting of 40 per cent landlines and 60 per cent cellphone numbers. Telephone numbers were dialed up to five times at five different times of day before another telephone number was added to the sample. The response rate among valid numbers (i.e., residential and personal) was 11.7 per cent.


Alberta UCP wraps spring legislature sitting marred by accusations of overreach

The Canadian Press
Wed, May 29, 2024 



EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government capped off the spring legislature sitting Wednesday after passing bills slammed by critics as an undemocratic power grab.

One proposed law, which would give the United Conservative Party government the ability to overturn municipal bylaws, passed debate in the house shortly before members adjourned for the summer.

Backlash from municipalities about the bill going too far spurred the UCP to make amendments and claw back a plan for cabinet to be able to quickly fire mayors and councillors.

When the bill officially becomes law, the government would have to call for a local recall vote.

The widespread criticism didn't stop with the amendments.

Municipal leaders have said the changes don’t provide guardrails to prevent the province from strong-arming municipal decision-making.

Alberta Municipalities launched on Tuesday an ad campaign against the bill, including a billboard near the legislature building.

Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver has defended the bill and pointed to a clause in it that would remove property taxes to incentivize affordable housing.

"It's a good bill," he said.

The fast pace of the final weeks of the sitting drew condemnation from Opposition New Democrats. They accused the government of ramming through four contentious bills as quickly as possible, limiting the opportunity of members to voice concerns from constituents.

The NDP said the government ran roughshod over the democratic process by using motions to limit debate time to one hour at each debate stage.

NDP Leader Rachel Notley said Smith, with the municipalities bill, is giving her government the ability to intimidate and bully any local officials who might stand up publicly against it.

“It doesn’t respect the democratic will of the people. This is a government that thinks that it can just make decisions on its own with no regard to the opinions of Albertans or, quite frankly, the truth,” Notley said.

Government house leader Joseph Schow defended the use of time limits, saying the Opposition has neither supported the bills nor offered constructive criticism.

"We got a lot of good bills through," Schow said of the UCP's first 12 months in office.

The last bill of the sitting to get the stamp of approval from UCP legislators later Wednesday would pave the way for Smith to restructure the public health-care system and create four new governing bureaucracies that report to Health Minister Adriana LaGrange.

Legislation passed earlier this week would push provincial elections into the fall, instead of the spring, and give more authority to the government to step in on local emergency responses, like wildfires and droughts.

Another bill would give the province the power to veto federal funding for cities, towns and universities.

That bill has sparked concern the province will interfere with academic freedom and free speech from student and faculty groups.

The sitting came to a close against a backdrop of provincewide protests against the UCP, pushback from Pride groups over proposed rules for transgender youth and an NDP leadership race to replace Notley.

With NDP members set to choose a new leader June 22, Wednesday marked the last day Notley stood in the house as the leader of the Opposition.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2024.

Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press

 “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose” 

Kenney stays on as leader, media invited to watch cabinet deliver standing ovation

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

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

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.

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

NDP Leader Rachel Notley builds team as UCP caucus debates leadership

Who could replace Jason Kenney as UCP leader? Some possible contenders

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

UCP supporters favour Smith, Jean and Toews as top 3 contenders in leadership race, poll shows

CBC/Radio-Canada - Yesterday 

United Conservative supporters are leaning toward three top contenders in the party's leadership race, according to a new poll — but one political scientist says its results aren't a sure indicator of who's on top.


© Jonathan Hayward/The Canadian Press, submitted by Brian Jean, Jason Franson/The Canadian PressFormer Wildrose Party leaders Danielle Smith (left) and Brian Jean (centre) had the most support amongst United Conservative Party supporters in a new poll, while former finance minister Travis Toews (right) followed in third.

The recent poll from Canadian research company Leger asked UCP supporters which of the candidates they felt would make the best party leader. Former Wildrose Party leaders Danielle Smith (with 22 per cent) and Brian Jean (20 per cent) had the most support, while former finance minister Travis Toews followed with 15 per cent.

Duane Bratt, political scientist at Mount Royal University, said something important to remember is that this poll was not a survey of UCP members, who will be the ones deciding the party's next leader.

"I think [the poll] tells us who the wider population has name recognition of," Bratt said.

"It doesn't help us understand how the leadership race is going to work because to do that you would need access to the actual membership list."

Even if the poll did survey UCP members, Bratt said having a preferential ballot in the actual race makes it hard to predict who might come out on top.

The poll surveyed 1,025 Albertans aged 18 and older. Among them, 351 were identified as UCP supporters, indicating they would vote for the party if a provincial election was held today. Surveys were conducted online between July 15 and 17. Results were weighted according to age, gender and region based on 2016 Census data, the Leger website states.

A margin of error was not stated as the poll was a non-probability survey, according to Leger.

How important is name recognition?

Bratt said it's not surprising the former Wildrose leaders and a former provincial minister are the candidates with the greatest name recognition.

Andrews Enns, an executive vice-president at Leger, said even though the poll didn't survey party members, the results shouldn't be completely discounted in predicting the next UCP leader.

"Party members are also members of the public and so I think there will be … some reflection of this in terms of where things currently are," Enns said.

While the poll may not indicate who UCP members favour, name recognition could still be an important factor in determining which candidates can rally the most membership support, according to Bratt.

"If you're going to sell memberships, people have to know who you are," he said.

Former cabinet minister Rajan Sawhney received zero per cent support in the poll.

None of the other approved candidates got more than 2 per cent support. Notably among them are two other former cabinet ministers: Leela Aheer and Rebecca Shulz.

Enns said it may seem shocking that some former cabinet ministers would receive little to no support in the poll, but he said the general public doesn't "really have much recollection" of ministers unless they're in top positions.

"It's almost like the public has kind of a certain capacity to take in who's doing what and who's playing an active role in government," he said.

 
NDP slightly in lead with decided voters

The poll also suggests the New Democratic Party is slightly in the lead with voter support in the general public, with 45 per cent of decided voters favouring Rachel Notley's party, while 41 per cent support the UCP.

However, Bratt said if current support for the NDP was broken down by legislative seats, it may still lead to a UCP government.

While the NDP has an "overwhelming lead" in Edmonton, and the UCP dominates rural Alberta, the parties are almost tied in support in Calgary, Bratt said.

"For the NDP to win their path to victory, they can't be neck to neck in Calgary. They have to win substantially," he said.

The poll shows that at 61 per cent support, decided voters in Edmonton are more likely to vote for the NDP. Support for the UCP is highest outside of Edmonton and Calgary at 51 per cent. Within the City of Calgary, UCP support is at 41 per cent.

UCP support also appears to increase with voter age, the poll results showed.

Enns said one interesting finding of the poll is that when asked what the most important quality the party's new leader should have, UCP supporters indicated the candidate should have a clear plan for Alberta's economic growth.

"This actually provides some important information potentially to those campaigns," Enns said.

"If their goal is to attract members from the UCP supporter base … this would be some of the messaging that would be most appealing in terms of getting the Albertan economy back on track and investing in some of those core services like health and education."

Braid: Poll shows UCP faces long climb out of persistent unpopularity

Author of the article: Don Braid • Calgary Herald
Publishing date:Jul 31, 2021 • 

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney at a press conference in Calgary. PHOTO BY POSTMEDIA FILE
Article content

Premier Jason Kenney’s United Conservative government remains far behind the NDP in both popularity and cold hard cash.

A new poll for Postmedia from Leger Research shows 39 per cent of Albertans would vote for the New Democrats, and only 29 per cent for the UCP.

Current contribution numbers filed with Elections Alberta are even more startling.

In the first six months of this year, the NDP collected $2.7 million. The UCP brought in $1.2 million

If this trend continues, the NDP will have a stupendous war chest for the election coming in about 20 months.

Leader Rachel Notley’s party raked in nearly as much in the past three months ($1.5 million) as they spent to win the 2015 election ($1.6 million).

The NDP not only has more donations but about twice as many individual donors as the UCP.

Money trouble always makes parties nervous, even when they face virtually no opposition. The late Progressive Conservative premier Don Getty was gently encouraged to step aside in 1992 after fundraising fell off. He did.

The more visible problem for Kenney is weak approval numbers. This has shown up for months in results from several pollsters.

The latest findings from Leger remain bleak for the government.

First, there is widespread general discontent. Fifty-four per cent of Albertans say the province is going in the wrong direction.

The UCP scores behind the NDP in Calgary, Edmonton and the rest of Alberta.

Only in the age group over 65 is the UCP more popular than the NDP (47 per cent to 39 per cent).

The NDP appears to have a lock on most younger Albertans.

For those between 35 and 44, the NDP has 45 per cent approval and the UCP only 18 per cent.

The NDP leads among men, with 38 per cent to 33 per cent. Female voters favour the NDP by 40 per cent to 26 per cent.

Leger executive vice-president Ian Large says “the numbers are bad for the UCP.”

“But I think you’ve seen the low point in UCP support. There are small changes, incremental, but this could essentially be the darkness before the dawn.”

For instance, when only decided and leaning voters are considered, UCP support rises to 34 per cent. This is still well behind the NDP but appears to be trending upward.

Also, 51 per cent of voters say they could change their minds about whom they will support. Some younger voters, although leaning hard toward the NDP right now, are quite open to switching.

Large says, “there is lots of potentially good news on the horizon for the UCP. Oil prices are up, there’s the Trans Mountain pipeline — all that perfect storm for recovery is there.

“There is the potential for the numbers to keep rising. They’re only two years into the mandate, so they have another two years to pull it together.”

But some serious UCP challenges are starting to look entrenched.

“The NDP shouldn’t be leading in Calgary,” Large adds. “It just shouldn’t be happening. The (UCP) problem runs very deep, far beyond just a few people on the right.”

More troubles seem inevitable. Leaks from the Allan commission report on foreign funding of anti-oil campaigns show there has been no wrongdoing — an expensive finding sharply at odds with the premier’s rhetoric on oilpatch opponents.

Also, Leger’s polling was completed before this week’s abrupt shift in pandemic policy. By mid-August, the province will sharply cut testing and even allow people infected with COVID-19 to circulate with others.

“The announcement has created a great deal of confusion and concern,” says Large. “With the new rules, kids don’t have to wear masks, so you have a very big contingent of worried parents who are sending their kids to school.”

If the UCP is to get out of this jam, they have to start soon. The months do fly by.

Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Calgary Herald.

Twitter: @DonBraid

Facebook: Don Braid Politics

UCP defends Christmas party just hours after 'strongly encouraging' cancellations


Sean Amato
CTV News Edmonton
Updated Dec. 22, 2021

The United Conservative Party carried on with a Christmas reception at an Edmonton restaurant Tuesday night, just hours after officials asked Albertans to cancel parties and limit contacts to help fight COVID-19.

"We strongly encourage workplaces to cancel any social gatherings, even if they're in a venue that's participating in the Restrictions Exemption Program," Health Minister Jason Copping said at a provincial announcement that started at 3:30 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., the doors opened to the UCP's capital region Members Christmas Reception at Parlour Italian Kitchen and Bar just a few blocks from the Alberta legislature.

It wasn't clear how many UCP MLAs were at the party, but the invite said some would be in attendance.

"Albertans are frustrated. The hypocrisy we continue to see from this government undermines our public health response and exhausts Albertans,” NDP MLA Christina Gray said.

On Wednesday, a UCP spokesperson confirmed the gathering, but said it was compliant with provincial COVID-19 rules.

200 PEOPLE IS NOT COMPLIANT

"The Premier's advice to Albertans was given only a short time before our event was to begin, and given our compliance with the REP and adequate spacing in the venue with reduced capacity, we decided to proceed," UCP spokesperson Dave Prisco wrote in a statement.

Prisco ignored a question about how many people were in attendance, but said a similar event Thursday night in Calgary was cancelled " in accordance with the premier's advice."

A spokesperson said Premier Jason Kenney and Copping were not at the party.

THEY LIED

Bars and restaurants were allowed to be open on Wednesday, with masking, vaccine and distancing rules in place.

Kenney announced revised public health restrictions Wednesday in an effort to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, and he also asked Albertans to voluntarily reduce interactions.

"We are appealing to Albertans to reduce their number of daily in person contacts by half over the coming weeks," Kenney said.

"We also need Albertans to make personal choices in their daily lives that will slow transmission."

'JASON KENNEY LACKS ALL LEADERSHIP'

Kenney and the UCP apologized in January after several MLAs travelled internationally despite a federal travel warning.

He also apologized in June for not following COVID-19 rules during a rooftop dinner.

UCP MLAs were specifically told not to travel internationally this Christmas and NDP Leader Rachel Notley said her team had cancelled their travel plans.

"When we saw case counts rising, and other provinces impose restrictions, we cancelled this month's holiday staff party to reduce in-person contacts. It was the responsible thing to do," Notley tweeted on Wednesday.

"To have the health minister yesterday tell all Albertans, and all Alberta workplaces, 'we think you should be cancelling your holiday parties,' and the UCP to still hold those shows that Jason Kenney lacks all leadership," Gray said.

Invites for the party were sent to members on Nov. 27, and early-bird tickets were sold for $55. The invite said "very special guests from our MLA team and our conservative movement," would be in attendance.



An invite that the UCP sent members for a Christmas reception that was held on Dec 21, 2021.


Parlour Italian Kitchen and Bar in downtown Edmonton on Dec 22, 2021. (Sean Amato/CTV News Edmonton)

UCP holds Christmas party after asking Albertans to scale back close contacts

Tom Vernon 

GLOBAL NEWS

Hours after Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Jason Copping urged Albertans to cut down their close contacts by 50 per cent and cancel Christmas parties to slow the spread of the Omicron variant, members of the United Conservative Party gathered at a restaurant in Edmonton for a Christmas reception.

© Provided by Global News Edmonton area members of the United Conservative Party gather for a Christmas party in an Edmonton restaurant on December 21, 2021

"The Premier's advice to Albertans was given only a short time before our event was to begin," UCP director of communications Dave Prisco wrote in a statement.

"Given our compliance with the REP and adequate spacing in the venue with reduced capacity, we decided to proceed."

Photos obtained by Global News show among those in attendance was Justice Minister Kaycee Madu.

READ MORE: Omicron variant dominant in Alberta, premier urges Albertans to halve personal contacts

"The hypocrisy of this government continuing to ask Albertans to do what they say but not what they do is incredibly frustrating," NDP Labour Critic Christina Gray said in response to the gathering.

Gray points to last Christmas when several UCP MLAs and staffers travelled abroad as Albertans were being told to lockdown during the second wave of the pandemic, a scandal that became known as Aloha-gate, and then the June dinner on the Skypalace patio where Premier Kenney and senior members of his cabinet, including then Health Minister Tyler Shandro, broke social distancing rules.

READ MORE: 'If you're yelling at us… thank you': Alberta MLA on colleagues' travel during COVID-19

"It is frustrating, it is exhausting and Albertans are sick of it," she said.

Mount Royal University Political Scientist Duane Bratt agrees.

"There's a pattern here," Bratt told Global News, adding that in order for people to take restrictions and recommendations seriously, the governing party needs to walk the walk.

"Even if it's not legislated, even when you encourage people, you have to follow that."

READ MORE: 'I regret that': Kenney apologizes for Sky Palace dinner that broke COVID-19 rules

The UCP had a similar Christmas party planned for Calgary members on Wednesday night, that event has been cancelled.

UCP under fire after large party held hours after government pleads with Albertans to reduce contacts

By JOSH RITCHIE
Posted Dec 22, 2021

Members of Alberta's UCP can be seen inside a restaurant in Edmonton on Tuesday,
just hours after the party's leader, Jason Kenney, asked Albertans to avoid large gatherings.


SUMMARY


Around 200 members of the UCP were seen at the private gathering


According to sources, while the gathering was large, no COVID-19 protocols were broken


Another UCP Christmas party that was planned for Wednesday in Calgary has now been cancelled


Hours after asking Albertans to hold off on attending large gatherings, members of Alberta’s UCP government were seen attending a Christmas party in Edmonton on Tuesday.

According to sources CityNews spoke with, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Jason Copping were not present at the party, though some other familiar faces were seen.

Around 200 people were allegedly in attendance at the gathering, with Justice Minister Kaycee Madu and Minister Dale Nally both seen.

The event was held at The Parlour Italian Kitchen & Bar with restaurant staff confirming the entire venue had been bought out.

While the event was held by a large group, no COVID-19 protocols or restrictions were broken during the event.

On Tuesday, both Kenney and Copping pleaded with Albertans to consider making changes in their day-to-day lives over the holidays to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and the new Omicron variant.

“These (new capacity limits) are largely focused at avoiding super spreader events by reducing contacts in large settings, like major events, large capacity venues and certain discretionary activities where there is a high risk of transmission,” said Kenney.

“While these changes look at reducing contacts in large settings, it’s important to remember that small everyday actions can have an important impact as well. And that is why we are appealing to Albertans to reduce their number of daily, in-person contacts by half over the coming weeks.”


The new capacity limits are set to come into effect on Friday at 12:01 a.m.

Another large event was planned for Wednesday night in Calgary, but not long after this story broke, the UCP cancelled the event.