Kenney admits that many are angry with him

Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenney acknowledges the tensions within his United Conservative party, while the PCU president pleads with members to remain united under the camp banner.

Both comments came moments apart at the party’s annual general meeting in Calgary on Saturday.

Kenney delivered a keynote speech in which he defended actions to protect the province’s health system during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite some of those actions causing rifts within the party’s ranks.

“We have made mistakes in the process and, as prime minister, I must take responsibility for that,” Kenney said. “I know many of you are angry with me and with our government for having introduced public health restrictions on multiple occasions throughout COVID.”

But Kenney said he has no regrets about his government’s pandemic-fighting measures despite the anger they caused that they were necessary to protect Alberta’s health system, which was on the brink of collapse.

The prime minister faced strong criticism from people who thought the various restrictions were too strong and from others who thought he should have acted earlier and more decisively.

Kenney’s approval rating has plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a number of contentious issues, such as an ongoing lawsuit against his office and political infighting, have framed much of his tenure.

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He said he welcomes an upcoming leadership review, but asks members to focus on Albertans’ priorities rather than internal party affairs. Kenney will face a leadership review in April, but it could come sooner.

“There will be a leadership review vote next year and I want you to know that I welcome you and take that opportunity to be held accountable,” Kenney said during his speech Saturday.

“We have some internal differences, all major political parties have them and always will, but let’s address and resolve those internal differences internally.”

Immediately before Kenney’s speech, newly elected party chair Cynthia Moore described the PCU as family.

“Many of us have forgotten that we are Conservatives United. Some of us forget what brought us together and now we are focusing on what divides us,” Moore said. “Compromise is not always easy, but it is often the right thing to do. We must remember that politics is the art of negotiation and compromise.”

When Kenney took the stage, he was met with a standing ovation from much of the room, although some remained seated.

His speech inspired mixed reviews.

Brian Jean, former Wildrose leader and co-founder of the UCP, said Kenney’s speech will not win back the support of his critics.

Jean has said that he plans to run again for the UCP in a vacant seat at Fort McMurray, and that if elected, he will work to remove Kenney as prime minister.

“He has lost the confidence of the caucus – many members of the caucus – and he has lost the confidence of the Albertans. And the difficulty is that we don’t have time for him to play and try to get it back,” Jean said.

“There have been many things besides COVID that have not gone well for him.”

Rajan Sawhney, Alberta’s Transportation Minister, said Kenney set the right tone by focusing on his government’s achievements and Alberta’s economic recovery.

Sawhney said Kenney was right not to focus on divisions and noted that the leader is in regular talks with UCP members.

“I’ve seen him work hard. I think he’s trying his best. Has everything been perfect? ​​… No,” Sawhney said. “But it is not due to lack of intent or lack of intention.”

Twenty-two UCP constituencies associations signed a letter to the party executive asking for a vote on Kenney’s leadership ahead of the April one.

On Friday, a motion that would have made it difficult to conduct an earlier review failed with 75 percent or more of the required votes.

The motion that did not pass asked to increase the required number of voters’ associations to 29.

This Canadian Press report was first published on November 20, 2021.