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Senior UCP member calls for early leadership review of Premier Jason Kenney

A senior United Conservative Party member has called for an emergency meeting to discuss an early leadership review of Premier Jason Kenney.

As first reported by the Western Standard, Joel Mullan, the party’s vice-president of policy, emailed the United Conservative Party board on Friday to discuss a review Kenney’s leadership.

When reached by phone Saturday, Mullan confirmed he wrote the email but declined to comment further, saying he is “not at liberty to discuss matters before the board.”

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Political scientist Duane Bratt said this is a sign Kenney is in trouble, but he hasn’t realized it yet.

“I think Kenney thinks he can survive, but I’m not hearing much of that from other people, including conservatives who I have been talking to, they go, ‘He needs to step down for the good of the party.’ They’re just not willing to push him out.”

Kenney has been under fire from his own caucus this week after he announced sweeping new restrictions and a vaccine passport Wednesday night — two things the premier previously said he wouldn’t do. The measures include restrictions on indoor gatherings, businesses and events, with an option for businesses like restaurants and gyms to avoid restrictions if they require patrons to show proof of vaccination or a negative test.
Richard Gotfried, UCP MLA for Calgary-Fish Creek, said Wednesday he is “deeply apologetic” that he failed to convince the government to announce stronger public health restrictions sooner.
Nothing was done while we lacked any leadership at the helm. It will cost us lives and I am gutted by the lack of responsiveness to unequivocal advocacy and clear warning signals,” he wrote replying to questions posted on Facebook.
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In a Wednesday joint statement, former UCP MLAs Todd Loewen and Drew Barnes, sitting as Independents, called for Kenney‘s resignation.

With senior party membership indicating there should be a leadership review, Bratt said the UCP has realized they cannot go into an election with Kenney at the helm.

“They’re looking out for their own political survival,” Bratt said.

“I don’t think it matters if they change leaders, the UCP is still in trouble. But I think there’s enough UCPers that believe all they have to do is change leaders, the way it worked for the PC (Progressive Conservatives). They would change leaders, and they would just move on and win another election. I’m not sure this is the same circumstance.”

Currently, a leadership review for Kenney is scheduled to occur at the party’s Annual General Meeting in 2022.

Postmedia has reached out to Kenney’s office but has not received a comment.

— With files from Lisa Johnson
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