'Soap opera': Alberta premier says he's been too tolerant of open dissent
Premier Jason Kenney says Albertans are unimpressed with the intraparty melodrama of his United Conservative government and adds that, if anything, he has been too soft on dissenters.
“What Albertans expect from their government isn’t a constant soap opera, and they certainly don’t want to see a family feud,” Kenney said, responding to questions Wednesday night during a Facebook town-hall meeting.
“Conservatives know that we must be united, and unity requires a degree of discipline.”
United Conservative Party members are currently voting by mail on whether Kenney should remain leader. If he receives less than 50 per cent support, the party must call a leadership race.
The vote has exposed deep discontent with Kenney’s leadership. Some members of his caucus have openly called for him to resign for the good of the party.
Kenney said while he respects free speech in his caucus, he has probably been too tolerant of open dissent.
He said he learned the importance of discipline while he was in the cabinet and caucus of former prime minister Stephen Harper.
“Sometimes (Harper) was criticized for being too strong in maintaining that discipline, but in retrospect I think it was necessary to maintain the unity and coherence of our government, party and movement,” said Kenney.
“If I’ve made a mistake in the past three years, perhaps it’s (that) I’ve been far too tolerant of public expressions of opposition.
“There are totally legitimate times when MLAs should be able to speak out for their constituents or share somewhat different views on policy. But if that becomes nothing but a constant effort at an internal civil war, I don’t think that’s acceptable.”
Almost 60,000 party members are eligible to vote in the leadership review. Results are to be announced May 18.
Kenney reiterated that if he fails to get 50 per cent, he will step aside, but if he gets the support he needs to continue, he expects everyone in caucus to fall in line so that the party can present a united front to defeat the Opposition NDP in the 2023 election.
Kenney has been dealing with dissent for more than a year, a situation exacerbated by and stemming from low poll popularity ratings.
Opponents have criticized his COVID-19 decisions, but have also said he has ditched the party’s grassroots ethos for top-down, centralized command and control.
Who gets punished and who doesn’t for public criticism has been hit and miss. A year ago, backbenchers Todd Loewen and Drew Barnes were voted out of caucus for criticizing Kenney. Soon after, Leela Aheer was dumped from cabinet for doing the same.
Others have spoken out against the premier but have been allowed to stay in caucus, including two backbenchers who recently renewed calls for Kenney to quit.
The highest profile dissenter is Brian Jean, the newest member of the legislature. Jean won a recent byelection for the UCP on a promise to fight to have Kenney ousted. Some UCP members support Jean, while others have accuse him of being an Opposition NDP collaborator.
A revised seating chart in the house this week reflects the rift. Most of Kenney’s critics are now seated in the back row of the government benches. Jean is at the far end in the corner, furthest away from Kenney and the door.
On Tuesday, backbencher Jason Stephan renewed an earlier attack on Kenney in a speech to the house.
“Some say that unity requires you to follow the leader, but what if you’re being led over a cliff?” said Stephan. “Should you fall like a lemming? No.”
He added that "unity cannot be forced or coerced. Without trust, there is no unity.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 21, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada could impose tariffs on U.S. steel, orange juice in response to Trump threat
Canadian officials are narrowing a list of American products to target in the event the federal government must respond to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, CTV News has confirmed.
Convicted Jan. 6 rioter arrested as fugitive in Whistler, B.C.
An American citizen convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on Capitol Hill who said he was seeking asylum in Canada has been arrested as a "fugitive from U.S. justice," according to authorities.
Can the U.S. really make Canada the 51st state?
Talk of Canada becoming the 51st American state has raised an existential question on this side of the border: Could it be done? Could the maple leaf make way to the stars and stripes? According to several experts, it may be possible, but not painless.
L.A. wildfires continue to devastate area, Canada prepared to offer expertise
A series of wildfires are searing through the Los Angeles area, forcing many to evacuate their homes. Here's everything that happened throughout Jan. 8.
'True when I said it, true today': former Canadian PM Harper pushes back against Trump on social media
Former Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper doesn’t find president-elect Donald Trump’s jibes about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state very amusing.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he is 'OK' after OPP vehicle he was in was 'sideswiped' in Highway 401 collision
Ontario Premier Doug Ford was uninjured after an OPP vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a collision on Highway 401 earlier today.
At least 60 University of Guelph students sick as 'cluster of illness' hits residence
The University of Guelph is dealing with what they are calling a ‘cluster of illness’ among students living in residence.
Energy minister 'committed' to consumer carbon tax as he considers Liberal leadership
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says he would be 'committed' to the consumer carbon tax should he become Liberal leader and prime minister, despite the policy’s unpopularity.
New ranking suggests Canada passport among 'top 5 losers' in the world
A new global ranking may raise doubts about Canada's reputation of being open to other countries.