The upcoming United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership review and its outcome will certainly be of very considerable interest to party members across the province.
With Premier Jason Kenney facing the possibility of losing his leadership position only three years after leading his party to a majority election victory in April 2019, the review is an important and key milestone for the party and its members.
At the same time, Albertans in general also have a stake in the outcome of the leadership review – and not the least because the review could end up triggering a leadership race, possibly throwing the ruling party into disarray and confusion at a time when the province is facing great and significant challenges.
For his part, Premier Kenney has publicly expressed confidence that he can survive the review and will be able to lead Alberta forward over the next year in the run-up to the 2023 provincial election.
“It’s incumbent on mainstream Alberta conservatives to show up (in Red Deer) in large numbers to send the message about the importance of stability and maintaining a big tent, mainstream coalition for the interest of the future of the province,” said Kenney.
Unfortunately for the first-term premier and his supporters, the March 15 byelection win by his chief UCP rival Brian Jean in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche means the April 9 review is shaping up to be a down-and-out political dogfight.
Brian Jean has made no bones about the fact he believes a Kenney-led UPC could lose to the NDP in the next provincial election.
“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. We need him to go,” said Jean.
Thousands of UCP members will be participating in the April 9 leadership review in Red Deer – and many thousands of others, including non-party members, will be watching from home with great interest.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
