Braid: Race for UCP leadership in the retention model as challenges grow

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Calgary is overburdened with Kenny’s ministers – and yet another leader in Calgary may be essential to the UCP

Author of the article:

Don Bride • Calgary Herald

Publication date:

May 30, 2022 • 2 hours ago • 3 minutes reading • 18 comments Jason Kenny speaks at an event at Spruce Meadows in Calgary on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 Jim Wells / Postmedia

Content of the article

Treasury Secretary Travis Tows registered for the Alberta election late Monday as an official candidate for UCP leadership.

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He is first in the ring for the post of Prime Minister Jason Kenny. Others who say they will run – Brian Jean and Daniel Smith – have not officially registered.

But there is little rush, as the central party of the UCP has not yet set the rules, date or participation fee for the leadership election.

This could happen later this week or next week at the latest. Voting may come in late August, although September is more likely.

The UCP will then have eight months to nominate a new prime minister for the May 29, 2023 election.

Alberta is entering a strange period without leaders, just when the province needs a strong, sensible government.

Prime Minister Jason Kenny is entering the lame duck phase. There will be no new legislation before the autumn. It is rumored that he will go on vacation soon.

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Another politician who will run is Todd Lowen, MLA of Central Peace-Notley, who was expelled from the group for demanding Kenny’s resignation.

Toews, from Grande Prairie-Wapiti, will be supported by many (though not all) of Kenny’s campaign team, as well as some donors.

A relationship with Kenny may not be the best recommendation for voters. Toews’ candidacy would remind some veterans of Jim Dining, who ran as Ralph Klein’s permanent successor in 2006.

He lost. It is difficult to maintain a lead for many months while dragging on the history of your government.

Toews doesn’t even have a lead with UCP voters. He saw just five percent approval in a Leger poll last weekend, far behind Jean and Smith.

Finance Minister Travis Tows. Chris Schwartz / Government of Alberta

There is a lot of background noise about Rebecca Schultz, the Minister of Children’s Services.

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Schultz is a very capable presenter. When a kindergarten agreement was signed with Ottawa last November, it overtook the prime minister, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and federal minister Karina Gould. Over the weekend, Schultz ran 21.1 km to benefit from a children’s charity.

Calgary is overwhelmed with Kenny’s ministers, as I pointed out last week. Still, another leader in Calgary may be essential to the UCP.

Edmonton is already lost at Rachel Notley’s party, except for some strange miracle in North Saskatchewan. Alberta’s rural areas are likely to vote primarily for the UCP.

This will make Calgary the key to victory for both the UCP and the NDP.

Notley knows the stakes very well. Her party nominates local candidates and she spends more time here. The NDP has no intention of ceding the city.

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The thinking among some UCP activists is that another conservative leader in Calgary could take the seats vital to UCP’s second victory.

As soon as the announcements of the management start coming, Kenny will have to fill the vacancies in the cabinet.

The big one would be finances. Tyler Shandro, who is now in justice, is rumored to be elected. A safer choice would be Employment Minister Doug Schweizer.

It is also rumored that Devin Drishen, who left the cabinet after admitting he had an alcohol problem, will be returned to the cabinet.

This will certainly provoke a response from Ariela Kimmel, whose lawsuit against the Prime Minister’s Office for allegations of harassment is still unresolved.

She claims there were angry shouts from Dreeshen. Her lawyer is still trying to force Kenny to testify.

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Just such a drama UCP desperately hopes will not interfere in the race for leadership.

Meanwhile, crucial issues continue to increase, especially in healthcare.

Many health experts say the system is in a state of collapse, much worse than the dark days when emergency services were overcrowded more than a decade ago.

UCP is taking steps under Health Minister Jason Kopping. But the government also fired Verna Yu, the chief executive who was best prepared to take AHS through the crisis.

There is no leader in healthcare; a lame duck leader in the prime minister’s office; a leadership race with high potential for allegations and accusations of fraud.

There is no guarantee that UCP will get away with it with the government.

Don Braid’s column appears regularly at the Herald.

Twitter: @DonBraid

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