Prime Minister Jason Kenny will join Alberta Energy Secretary Sonia Savage in Washington, D.C., this week to meet with members of the US Congress and participate in energy security sessions.
Savage will travel south on Monday with meetings scheduled for Tuesday on Capitol Hill before attending an oil sands seminar with Kenny on Wednesday.
“We continue to work to address the problems of North America and global energy security that have been ignored for too long,” Savage said in a statement to CBC News.
“It’s important for Alberta to have a place at the table when discussing these issues.”
Savage will return to Calgary on Thursday, while Kenny will return to Calgary on Friday.
Kenny said he looks forward to productive discussions during the trip and that Alberta is ready to stand by the United States in creating a stable, affordable and ethical energy system.
The prime minister’s involvement in the trip has been called into question by some in light of his announcement last month of his intention to resign as leader of the OCP.
While Kenny will remain prime minister until a new leader is elected, Dwayne Brother, a political scientist at Mount Royal University, said this type of trip is surprising for an employee in a de facto temporary position.
“This goes far beyond the role of guardian,” Brother said.
“What discussions can you have… knowing that you don’t make decisions at all? You enter without trust. “
Brother said he did not think Kenny should go on the trip in the first place, but added that it would be eloquent to see how US lawmakers would respond.
“Based on everything we’ve seen in the last month, he’s behaving as if May 18 never happened.”
The UCP plans to elect its next leader on October 6. There is eight candidates officially fighting for the position.
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