As the UCP leadership review nears, Jason Kenney seeks a simple majority
Jason Kenney's future as leader in the United Conservative Party will be decided in just over a month in Red Deer, and the Alberta premier knows what level of support he's seeking to stay in charge.
"In a democracy, a majority is 50 per cent plus one," Kenney said when asked what the threshold would be for him to stay on as leader of the UCP.
"I think the broad mainstream of Albertan conservatives want us to continue in getting the job done, keeping our commitments, building a strong province and being focused on a strong Alberta economy," he said later.
The premier made the comments Wednesday while reaffirming the government's plan to boost rural broadband internet across the province.
The announcement took place in Innisfail, which is only about 30 minutes away from where UCP members will vote on whether they approve of the party leader in April.
Though Kenney is seeking just a simple majority in order to remain, previous conservative leaders in Alberta have been forced out after receiving much higher support.
"Ed Stelmach and Alison Redford (each) got 77 per cent in a leadership review and they were forced out by their party," said Lori Williams, a political scientist with Mount Royal University.
"I would say there's a bit of a difference here in that Jason Kenney has a tight grip on the party," she said.
Ahead of the review, at least two groups have organized in an effort to sway voters against the premier. 'Take Back Alberta' and 'Vote Kenney Out' have each launched outreach campaigns, which include transportation to Red Deer for the vote.
Kenney has his own team working to drum up support on his behalf. His chief of staff, Pam Livingston, has taken a leave of absence along with other staffers to form a "campaign" team for Kenney.
The UCP leadership review is in Red Deer on April 9.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Economists say temporary tax cut, relief cheques play into rosier growth picture
The federal government's 'meaty' move to pause federal sales tax on a long list of items and send cheques to millions of Canadians this spring could factor into an improving outlook for growth in 2025, economists say.
Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws
U.S. president-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration.
Second Australian teen dies in tainted alcohol case in Laos that has killed 6 tourists
A second Australian teenager who fell critically ill after drinking tainted alcohol in Laos has died in a hospital in Bangkok, her family said Friday, bringing the death toll in the mass poisoning of foreign tourists to six.
Bears find a buffet of battlefield rations at Alaska military base
Hungry bears broke into a storage room at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in this U.S. to feast on the military rations.
'Not good for the economy': MPs call on federal government to regulate resale concert tickets
Ticket fraud and sky-high prices for Taylor Swift concerts have some politicians calling for changes to the way tickets are sold in Canada.
A one-of-a-kind Royal Canadian Mint coin sells for more than $1.5M
A rare one-of-a-kind pure gold coin from the Royal Canadian Mint has sold for more than $1.5 million. The 99.99 per cent pure gold coin, named 'The Dance Screen (The Scream Too),' weighs a whopping 10 kilograms and surpassed the previous record for a coin offered at an auction in Canada.
South Korea says Russia supplied air defence missiles to North Korea in return for its troops
Russia has supplied air defence missile systems to North Korea in exchange for sending its troops to support Russia's war efforts against Ukraine, a top South Korean official said Friday.
From essential goods to common stocking stuffers, Trudeau offering Canadians temporary tax relief
Canadians will soon receive a temporary tax break on several items, along with a one-time $250 rebate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Canoeist is paddling the 9,650-kilometre Great Loop out of gratitude for life
Peter Frank has paddled from Michigan's Upper Peninsula in June to the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland this month in his 1982 Sawyer Loon decked canoe, but he’s still got a long way to go.