OLDS - Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Nathan Cooper has reacted to the election of fellow UCP member Brian Jean in the riding of Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche.
Jean defeated seven other candidates to take the riding during a byelection vote Tuesday, March 15.
“I am always excited to see new team members elected to the legislative assembly and I welcome Brian back,” Cooper told the Albertan.
Jean has said he plans to work to see Premier Kenney removed as party leader. A leadership review will take place in Red Deer on April 9.
“On April 9 we have a chance to reinvigorate our party and be competitive in the next election and if Jason Kenney is still there, we won’t be,” Jean said following his win. “We need him to go.”
Thousands of party members are reportedly already registered to attend the Red Deer review. Kenney has said he will stay on if he receives 50 per cent plus one votes in the review.
For his part, Cooper says he’s pleased party members are engaging in the review.
“I am pleased to see so many people from Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills getting involved in the leadership review process,” said Cooper.
“Hundreds of constituents have signed up to go to attend and it is their voices that are the most important in this process. I look forward to connecting with them.”
Jean lost the UCP leadership race to Kenney in October 2017 and resigned his seat in the legislature in March 2018.
Jason Nixon, Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre UCP MLA and a Kenney cabinet minister, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
