Calgary Nose Hill MP Michelle Rempel Garner says she is “seriously considering” a UCP leadership bid.
Alberta Prime Minister Jason Kenny has announced his intention to resign as UCP leader last month, but remains until a new leader is elected.
Speaking on Twitter on Wednesday night, Rempel Garner said she had been encouraged to seek the party’s leadership and as such would no longer compete in the federal Conservative leadership race.
Rempel Garner co-chaired Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown’s campaign for federal conservative leadership.
“I owe it to Albertans to pay full attention to this critical decision,” wrote Rempel Garner.
“I will make my decision based on the conversations I have with the people I represent – the Alberts.
2 / In recent weeks, I have been encouraged to seek the leadership of the United Conservative Party. This is not a decision that should be taken lightly by anyone.
– @ MichelleRempel
The Twitter message is Rempel Garner’s first public comment on the race after it was rumored that she had announced her candidacy.
Rempel Garner is a well-known political presence in Calgary, whose broad platform includes both strong support for LGBTQ rights and gun ownership.
She was also one of only two MPs to support Brown’s candidacy for the Federal Conservatives’ leadership campaign.
Bid for “greater dispersion”, says the sociologist
Political commentator and sociologist Janet Brown said Rempel Garner’s single approach to announcing her offer could be a strategy to evaluate her support.
“She’s probably trying to create a little excitement, get some people to come out and talk in her favor … and if she decides to run away, maybe there’ll be more excitement because because she created a little tension.”
Brown said Rempel Garner’s withdrawal from Brown’s candidacy for federal leadership could undermine his hopes of voting.
“[It’s] a big blow to him. He had already lost the support of several other MLAs earlier this week, and that could indeed signal the near-official end of his campaign, “Brown said.
Kenny resigned last month after gaining 51.4% support in the leadership review. He plans to remain prime minister until the party elects a new leader in October.
“Ever since Kenny resigned, the question of how UCP leadership will intertwine with CPC leadership has always been interesting, because so many of the people who will take part in one leadership race will also take part in another,” he said. Brown.
There are currently eight other candidates who have officially joined the provincial leadership race:
- MLA in Calgary Rebecca Schultz
- Grand Prairie-Uapiti MLA Travis Tows
- Media personality and former Wildrose Party leader Daniel Smith
- Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche MLA and former Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean
- Former UCP Minister of Social Services and Transport Rajan Soney
- Former UCP Culture, Multiculturalism and Women’s Status Minister Lila Ahir
- Independent MLA Todd Lowen
- Amisk Mayor and former Wildrose candidate Bill Rock
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