Questioning Kenney? UCP associations confirm threshold met to warrant leadership review

CALGARY -

The United Conservative Party Constituency Association Presidents confirm a special motion has been passed by enough associations to pave the way for a review of Premier Jason Kenney's leadership. 

At least 22 associations, accounting for more than a quarter of the UCP associations, passed a special motion demanding a leadership review be held within the next three months at a special general meeting. 

“This would allow one member, one vote,” said Calgary-Fishcreek Constituency Association president Jack Redekop on Monday. 

“With a AGM (annual general meeting) April 8th and 9th, just like the AGM that we have starting this weekend, only those attending are allowed to vote on the motion, including if it's a leadership review.”

Redekop says there have been nine meetings in the last eight months on calls for a leadership review. Many associations have brought forward concerns on everything from how the province handled the pandemic to pipelines and health care problems.

“We've had up to 37 constituencies on the call. Were some of those constituencies absolutely wanting to change the leader? To force a leadership review immediately, and even at this AGM? Absolutely," said Redekop.

“Frankly, I think the majority of the people on those meetings supported the leader.”

Premier Jason Kenney admits there is unrest within party lines. 

“Those frustrations are being felt in my own party, in caucus. There's no secret about that,” he told reporters Monday. 

“I do believe actually the vast majority of folks in my party are united around our common values and goals.”

According to the association presidents, the passing of the special motion by the 22 associations meets the threshold to trigger a special general meeting to conduct a leadership review as per the party's conditions endorsed by the board.

The presidents say that a motion will be on the floor Friday, on day one of the party’s 2021 AGM in Calgary. The motion would increase the threshold from 25 per cent of constituency associations (CA) calling for a review to 33 per cent. This vote has support of 36 per cent of associations, according to Redekop. 

Though Redekop fronted a media conference on Monday, he did not pinpoint the exact reason why this review needed to be called early. 

Samantha Steinke, president of the association in Central Peace-Notley region, said she does not trust Kenney to lead. 

"I feel I would be doing not my job if I wasn't very clear on the stance of my CA board, which is that they overwhelmingly do not support the premier,” said Steinke. 

"So that is the reason that this board has passed. But that is not the reason that all boards have passed the motion."

Party members also say that any motion brought forward at the 2021 AGM can only be brought forward by Kenney himself. 

“It’s clear that premier Kenney is in a fight for his political life,” said University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young. 

“I think there is a lot of discontent in the party at what is seen as being a real repudiation of that grassroots guarantee.”

Young believes the move by constituency associations sends a strong message. 

“I think that it also has to do with wanting to be sure that there is a reasonably long runway for a new leader in advance of the 2023 provincial election,” she said. 

Derrick Casey, constituency association president for Grande Prairie, says the timing of an early leadership review is what triggered the votes, but it didn’t sway all associations. 

“Even those people who are displeased with the work of the premier are saying, ‘if we have a leadership review, who is in the wings, what then?’” said Casey. 

“Those people are saying no to a leadership review, regardless of timing.”

The following are the four constituency associations who have passed the motion:

• Airdrie-Cochrane 
• Innisfail-Sylvan Lake 
• Calgary-North East 
• Calgary-Klein