A revolt seems to be brewing within the Kenney caucus, with increasing calls for a leadership review emerging from the ranks of disgruntled politicians.
Following the recent decision to introduce a vaccine passport system in Alberta, Premier Jason Kenney finds himself in a peculiar and undesirable position.
Indeed, everyone feels betrayed by the flip-flopping Premier.
One part of the province feels betrayed by Kenney for breaking his promise to “not facilitate or accept vaccine passports,” while the other part despises him for waiting so long to introduce them.
It just so happens that politicians in his caucus fall into that latter camp and are using the health crisis in Alberta to sow seeds of discontent to bring a leadership review to the fore.
“Until last week, I was one of Jason Kenney’s most vocal supporters,” said vice-president of policy for the United Conservative Party Joel Mullan.
“I campaigned for him in both leadership races and the Wildrose-PC unity vote. In light of the choices he has made last week, I can no longer support him and indeed believe he must resign.”
He went on to decry Kenney’s handling of the pandemic, calling him “utterly foolish” for trying to make firm promises.
“If Jason Kenney continues as leader, I fear that it may have a negative effect on the equalization referendum this October,” Mullan wrote on Tuesday.
“His deep unpopularity played a role in the defeat of several Conservative candidates in last night’s federal election, and it is entirely possible that many Albertans who otherwise oppose equalization will vote against the referendum question in an effort to send him a message.”
Lisa Young, a political scientist at the University of Calgary, noted this internal dissent, saying that she expects the party to attempt to remove Kenney in the coming months.
On Tuesday, she said, “I think there is a pretty common sense in the party that they do not want Premier Kenney to lead the party into the next election.”
“I think strategically for the party, they are far better leaving the premier in charge for the next number of months,” added Young.
“Let the premier take the fall for the situation we are in and then move forward with a new leader who can try and put things together once the issue that is pulling the caucus apart has been resolved.”
How Machiavellian! But it appears many intend to do just that.
Following a motion to hold a leadership review by the United Conservative Party constituency board in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, Rob Smith, the constituency association president, said that the caucus could hold a review no later than March 1, 2022, but that it would likely be called this November.
“We just feel like there is a disconnect [between] voters and grassroots; we feel that there is actually a disconnect within [the] caucus and cabinet,” said Smith.
According to the UCP constitution, twenty-two constituency associations across the province must request a leadership review for one to be held.
Smith is hopeful that this united request will materialize, adding that he knows several other boards discussing whether they should pass similar motions.
“Hopefully, this time, we’ll hit the 22 that is required,” said Smith.
Should Kenney fail to retain support during a leadership review, several Ministers are waiting in the reigns to replace him.
Of all the prospective replacements, three stand out from the rest: Travis Toews, the Minister of Finance; Devin Dreeshen, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry; and Jason Nixon, the Minister of Environment and Parks.
Nixon seems the least likely to replace Kenney due to his more left-wing tendencies, while the more pro-business Toews and Dreeshen will likely garner more long-term support from both the Caucus and Albertans.
