Posted: May 13, 2021 6:32 AM MT | Last Updated: May 13
Simmering internal discontent within Alberta Premier Jason Kenney s United Conservative caucus has now boiled over into an open challenge to his leadership.(Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press)
Brandon Sun By: Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press Posted:
Last Modified: 8:02 AM CDT Thursday, May. 13, 2021 Save to Read Later
EDMONTON - Simmering internal discontent within Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s United Conservative caucus has now boiled over into an open challenge to his leadership.
EDMONTON - Simmering internal discontent within Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s United Conservative caucus has now boiled over into an open challenge to his leadership.
Senior backbench member Todd Loewen, in a letter posted on Facebook in the pre-dawn hours Thursday, called on Kenney to resign, saying he no longer has confidence in his leadership.
Loewen accuses Kenney and his government of weak dealings with Ottawa, ignoring caucus members, delivering contradictory messages, and botching critical issues such as negotiations with doctors and controversy over coal mi
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Kenney’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Loewen is the member for Central Peace-Notley, a sprawling rural constituency in northern Alberta. Hanson represents Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul in the east.
They were two of 18 UCP backbench members to break with Kenney’s government in April over restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. The group said the rules were needlessly restrictive and infringed on personal freedoms. Sixteen wrote an open letter expressing those concerns.
Kenney has tolerated the open dissension for weeks. He has said he believes in free speech and that backbenchers are not in cabinet and don’t speak for his government.
Hours later, Loewen received a message of support from a second UCP backbencher, Dave Hanson.
Loewen accuses Kenney and his government of weak dealings with Ottawa, ignoring caucus members, delivering contradictory messages, and botching critical issues such as negotiations with doctors and a controversy over coal-mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. Many Albertans, including myself, no longer have confidence in your leadership, Loewen writes in the letter. I thank you for your service, but I am asking that you resign so that we can begin to put the province back together again.
Kenney s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In a letter posted on Facebook, senior MLA Todd Loewen called on Alberta Premier Jason Kenney to resign, saying he no longer has confidence in his leadership