Who can replace Jason Kenny as a UCP leader?Some possible candidates

peterpressmanMay 19, 2022

Brian Jean speaks to the media after being sworn in as an MLA at the Alberta Parliament in Edmonton on April 7, 2022. Photo by Ed Kaiser / /Post media

Prime Minister Jason Kenny announced on Wednesday that he would resign as a UCP leader because he failed to win the overwhelming majority in the party’s leadership review.

Kenny secured the support of only 51.4 percent of the members, and he soon announced his resignation, even though he had previously said that 50 percent plus one was enough to claim victory.

In just one year before the next election, the party must now embark on a leadership race to return the party to a solid foundation and secure a second term.

But who is probably a contestant and possibly a successor? Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, suggests that potential successors to the Cabinet could include Finance Minister Travis Tows, as well as Jobs, Economy and Innovation Minister Doug Schweizer. However, he added that outsiders such as former federal conservative lawmaker Rona Ambrose could intervene.

Brian Jean

Brian Jean performed best in the 2017 UCP Leadership Race when he and Jason Kenny last played against each other. Jean completed his mission as his conservative MP and returned to Alberta, wisely taking over the Wild Rose Party from the attempted merger of PC and Wild Rose under then Prime Minister Jim Prentice. Massive asylum, led by Daniel Smith (see below), caused a crack in the right-wing party, but not all MLA crossed the floor.

Jean took leadership and led Wild Rose to the position of official opposition. When PC and Wildrose were integrated into UCP, Jean tried to lead a new party, but failed. He left state politics and ran for a vacant seat in Fort McMurray in early 2022 on a platform trying to remove Kenny from the leader.

In a statement on Wednesday, Jean confirmed that he would run for leader. His campaign is “How we can do things together in different ways to regain the enthusiastic support of the millions of Albertans who elected us in 2019. I will show you. “

Daniel smith

Smith participated in the race with a lot of name recognition, both positive and negative. For many years, the broadcaster was formerly the leader of the Wild Rose Party (now under the umbrella of UCP) and the official opposition from 2012 to 2014.

To be controversial, she coordinated Prentice and extensive floor crossing to unify her rights. But not all Wild Rose MLAs followed, and Smith eventually lost a bid for a PC nomination. Smith returned to broadcast on chorus radio before leaving the show in 2021.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spoke openly against the restrictions and was controversial for suggesting that hydroxychloroquine could treat the virus.

Smith has indicated that he is interested in pursuing leadership, but said in a press release Wednesday night that he would hold a press conference on Thursday.

Drew Burns

Former Wild Rose MLA Drew Burns was one of Kenny’s most outspoken critics, both at caucuses and outside, as one of the most public faces of this year’s anti-Kenny movement.

He and his companion, MLATodd Lowen, were removed from the caucuses by voting after frankly speaking about the government’s handling of COVID-19. He has also spoken out about Alberta’s independence, which needs to be part of the debate in dealing with Alberta’s Ottawa.

Travis Tause

MLA in northern Alberta has been steadily supporting the state’s finances since it came to power in 2019. He has faced attempts to balance his books and has generally avoided some of the combat power of his cabinet colleagues.

Leela Aheel

MLA Leela Aheer in the Calgary region is another source of public criticism of Kenny.

She put the Prime Minister on duty by appearing to be in breach of health measures at lunch on the so-called Sky Palace balcony, and asked for comments he made to defend Canada’s first Prime Minister. I called.

Kenny claimed that it had nothing to do with her criticism, but she was soon demoted from the cabinet.

Jason Nixon

Considered Kenny’s right-hand man, Nixon was first elected as the Wild Rose MLA in 2015 and joined the negotiating committee to integrate the two parties into the UCP.

He has been the Minister of Parks and the Environment since the election of UCP, is the house leader of UCP, but is also the center of much controversy.

Doug Schweitzer

Schweizer, now Minister of Employment, Economy and Innovation, finished third in the 2017 UCP Leadership Contest after Kenny and Jean.

After the 2019 election, Schweizer was appointed Minister of Justice and Solicitation President and held that position for approximately 16 months before being transferred to his current portfolio.

Rona Ambrose

Ambrose, a former federal minister and former interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, has repeatedly said he is happy with the private sector. She may be a little reluctant to enter local politics, as she has repeatedly rejected her proposal to re-enter politics in order to run for Kuomintang leaders.

However, Ambrose is popular for its widespread appeal and is seen by many as a great enemy to NDP leader Rachel Notley.