It’s too early for United Conservatives to measure the curtains in the premier’s office but not for voters to measure UCP Leader Jason Kenney.
He has the royal jelly to be a premier – a combination of political smarts, communications skills, organizational ability and commitment to the exclusion of a personal life.
But so does the sitting premier, Rachel Notley.
Alberta is fortunate to have two of the most effective leaders in Canadian politics heading the two parties that matter both in the legislature and away from the Dome.
Indeed, the 2019 general election will be a choice between two parties – UPC and NDP, and between two leaders, Notley and Kenney.
A third party may emerge in the centre, probably the Liberals or Alberta Party.
The strategy of both parties is to hold the balance of power in the event of a minority government.
But both of them will be fortunate to field good candidates in enough ridings to make an impact on the votes.
Albertans know Notley and what she stands for in terms of policy and values.
Not so much Kenney, who has blown through politics like a whirlwind.
He is a bright political light: well-spoken, approachable and affable, effective and smart.
He has raised the level of legislative debate because he is an effective parliamentarian and is teaching his caucus how to maximize both question period and debate.
However, he created the impression that he is not ready to govern by vacating the legislature during debate on Bill 9 that creates no-protest safety zones around abortion clinics.
Some people branded him a coward for that decision. I think he was just naïve, thinking that he could find an acceptable way to avoid a clash within his party between the right and the centre.
People close to him say he is more moderate personally than his current political persona because his right wing won’t let him move closer to the centre.
Kenney was the right pick for UCP leadership.
But he’s not a hypocrite.
He stays away from gay pride events because he has no desire to be a panderer.
He has drawn a line on gay rights.
Without question, they have them, but he won’t make an issue of it.
On gay-straight alliances in the schools, he is not advocating “outing children,” just giving parents a proper role in the lives of their children.
He runs the risk of being too nuanced and needs to communicate his position as a meshing of LGBTQ and parental rights.
His major problem is that no one seems to like him.
Is this just Premier Ernest Manning redux?
Manning’s favourite wry quip after elections in which he consistently won a majority of seats in the legislature, was that he couldn’t find anyone who would admit to voting for him.
That was OK, he was still the premier for another four years.
-Frank Dabbs is a veteran political and business journalist and author.
