Jason Kenney Says He Will Not Participate in Upcoming UCP Leadership Race | CBC News

Jason Kenney says he will not run for the leadership of the United Conservative Party, effectively ending his time as premier of Alberta.

The PCU published the results of its leadership review on Wednesday. Although Kenney won a narrow majority, with 51.4 percent of the vote in favour, he announced that he would resign.

Questions have swirled in the days since, including whether he would run in the next UCP leadership election. But during his radio show on CHED on Saturday morning, Kenney confirmed that he would not run for party leader again.

“When you’re in a position like I am, you have to make a decision,” Kenney said.

“It was clear to me that legally it could have continued, with the support of the majority of people who voted. But it would probably invite more distractions and divisions.”

In an email on Saturday, a spokesperson for Kenney confirmed to CBC News that he will not participate in the upcoming UCP leadership race and will instead focus on continuity until there is a new leader.

For the leadership review, party members were asked, “Do you approve of the current leader?”

There were 34,298 members who mailed in ballots by the May 11 deadline, with 17,638 voting for and 16,660 voting against.

Kenney had previously suggested that he would accept a result of 50 percent plus one, for or against him.

However, he corrected the record while it aired Saturday morning and said he never said he would stay if he won.

Kenney was surprised when he saw the close results, he added.

“It was never my expectation to be in this job for very long,” Kenney said at CHED.

A party leader who publicly announces his intention to resign must immediately deliver written notice to the party secretary, PCU governance manual states Although, if a letter is not received within five business days, the resignation is accepted as given and a leadership election will be initiated.

On Thursday, Jason Kenney tweeted a photo of a letter declaring his intention to step down as UCP leader to party secretary Janis Nett, copying party chair Cynthia Moore.

Now, the PCU must create a leadership election committee to establish how the leadership race will take place.

The policy lists a number of eligibility criteria for candidates, including that they must have been a party member for at least six months, though that can be waived, and they must submit a nomination petition with at least 500 party member signatures. .

Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary, noted that Saturday’s radio show was the first time Kenney had answered questions since announcing his resignation, and speculation swirled about whether he would run again.

“He put that on the bed today,” Bratt told CBC News.

“I hope there are many people who will spend this long weekend pondering whether they want to run for party leadership.”

Brian Jean, former Wildrose Party leader and current UCP Fort McMurray-Lac la Biche MLA, has previously stated his desire to run for party leadership. Jean confirmed Wednesday, after Kenney announced his resignation, that he intends to do so.

Danielle Smith, also a former Wildrose Party leader, has also expressed interest in the role and is planning a campaign.

Other potential contenders include Kenney cabinet ministers Travis Toews, Doug Schweitzer, Sonya Savage, Jason Nixon and Rajan Sawhney.

However, the door is never completely closed on one’s political career, Bratt said. He pointed to Brian Jean, who left politics after losing the 2017 UCP leadership race to Kenney, but is now back.

Kenney will remain premier of Alberta until a new party leader is elected and sworn in.

There is no timeline yet for the leadership race.