UCP leadership review coming this spring following five-hour-long caucus meeting
The United Conservative Party says it will be moving up its annual general meeting in 2022 from the fall to the spring, and it's Jason Kenney's idea to do so.
"The premier spoke with the president of the party (on Wednesday) and requested that the 2022 UCP AGM take place in the spring," said Dave Prisco, UCP director of communications.
"The party is working to confirm a date and venue to make it a reality."
The meeting is also expected to be when Kenney’s leadership of the party will be reviewed.
Following a five-hour-long caucus meeting on Wednesday, a no-confidence vote was not held by elected members.
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo MLA Tany Yao says the meeting was productive.
“It was a lot more civil than I thought and professional,” he told CTV News. “I’m glad that we all understand each other.”
Some reports have indicated divisions between party members, including board executives, primarily having to do with Kenney's handling of the pandemic.
UCP backbencher Searle Turton told The Canadian Press that the caucus meeting was wide-ranging, but there was no vote of confidence on Kenney's leadership.
He says the focus of the debate was about the pandemic.
Some of Kenney's caucus members have criticized his health measures as being too little too late, while others say he has gone too far and violated individual rights by imposing a form of voluntary vaccine passports.
The party's vice-president of policy has already called for the premier to resign and says enough constituency associations have signed on to force an early party review and vote on Kenney's leadership.
“We rarely see this happening with a political party because the idea of course is to present a united front to the public, even if you have internal differences,” said University of Alberta political scientist John Church.
“One of the things that may happen if the party itself does not take any action as we may see some of the more right wing MLA split off.”
Former premier Rachel Notley’s director of communications and campaign strategist Leah Ward says Kenney’s job is safe for now.
“Jason Kenney likely isn't going anywhere, anytime soon,” she said.
“Being removed as premier would require either a vote of non confidence in the legislature or a leadership review.”
The UCP still plan on holding this year’s AGM at the Grey Eagle Resort & Casino in November.
Kenney said Tuesday he would welcome a leadership review.
"When you’re in an elected office, in one sense your job is always conditional,” he said.
“I’m happy to be held accountable to the members of my party.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Former Air Canada employees among suspects identified in gold heist at Pearson airport: police
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
'$6.66 per day': Advocacy groups disheartened by funding in budget for disability benefit
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
MPs summon ArriveCan contractor to the House to be admonished in rare parliamentary display
Enacting an extraordinarily rarely used parliamentary power, MPs have summoned an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon to be admonished publicly for failing to answer their questions.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Gas prices across Ontario expected to climb to levels not seen since 2022, analyst says
Ontario is going to see a big jump at the pumps later this week as gas prices in the province hit levels not seen in nearly two years, according to one industry analyst.
Ancient skeletons unearthed in France reveal Mafia-style killings
More than 5,500 years ago, two women were tied up and probably buried alive in a ritual sacrifice, using a form of torture associated today with the Italian Mafia, according to an analysis of skeletons discovered at an archeological site in southwest France.
Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s sons have released a single together
A new Lennon and McCartney collaboration is the last thing anybody expected.