Alberta Premier Jason Kenny (Screenshot)
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said he is stepping down as leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) on May 18 despite receiving 51.4 percent support from the party in a leadership vote, saying he doesn’t have a strong enough mandate.
“While 51 percent of the vote passes the constitutional threshold of a majority, it clearly is not adequate support to continue on as leader. And that is why tonight, I’ve informed the president of the party of my intention to step down as leader of the United Conservative Party,” Kenney said in a speech in Calgary following the revelation of the results.
“I’m sorry, but friends, I truly believe that we need to move forward united, we need to put the past behind us and our members, a large number of our members have asked for an opportunity to clear the air through a leadership election.”
Ballots were sent out a month ago to almost 60,000 eligible party members asking “Do you approve of the current leader? Yes or No?” A total of 34,298 votes were cast, with 17,638 of them showing support for Kenney to keep his job, while 16,660 voted ”No,” the UCP announced on its website.
Kenny had said previously a victory in the leadership review means unity and stability for his party. His decision to step down despite winning more than half of the votes is in contrast to his earlier statements that he would accept a slim majority, saying that the voting pool was skewed by last−minute members interested only in scuttling his big−tent conservative party.
There has been increasing open discontent by segments of Kenney’s caucus and party over his leadership and COVID-19 policies.
In an attempt to quell growing dissatisfaction, Kenney agreed months ago to move up the leadership vote from this fall to April 9.
Kenney said in his May 18 speech that he respects the decision of the party members who wanted to have a new leadership contest, and said he encourages other members to respect that decision as well.
“While we have our internal differences we must remember, remember the shared values that unite us as as conservatives,” he said.
Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley thanked Kenney for his service, saying there “are obviously many things about which we don’t agree, but that doesn’t negate the time and sacrifice that goes into taking on the role of Premier.”
“The work is never easy. The days are long and often difficult, as I’m sure today is,” Notley, who was premier before her party was defeated by the UCP in 2019, said on Twitter. “I wish Jason the best.”
Drew Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat who was ejected from the UCP caucus for publicly disagreeing with Kenney, also sent a note of gratitude on Twitter.
“I would like to thank [Jason Kenney] for his service to Albertans,” Barnes said.
The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
