The machinations wracking Jason Kenney and his party took a new twist Friday with the return of a former leader promising to vote against the Alberta premier in his leadership review and then trying to take his job.
Danielle Smith, the former leader of the Wildrose party — which later folded into the current United Conservative Party — announced she is coming back to provincial politics for the UCP after a seven-year hiatus.
Smith said she plans to run in the southern constituency of Livingstone-Macleod and will vote no in the upcoming mail-in review of Kenney’s leadership.
If Kenney fails to get at least majority support in the vote — the results are to be announced May 18 — the party must hold a contest to pick a new leader.
“If the members vote that they want to go to a leadership contest? I would put my name in on that,” Smith said.
“I’d be quite delighted to represent the people of this province in that capacity.”
Smith said Kenney has made progress on job creation and the economy, but failed on some COVID-19 measures.
But most importantly, she said, Kenney is ignoring the voice of everyday Albertans in the party and the province.
“That process seems to be completely broken down.”
Smith left politics in 2015 and has since worked as a radio talk show host and in business.
She said one reason she came back was dismay over Kenney recently vilifying his opponents as “lunatics.”
1:58 Premier Jason Kenney defends recorded comments calling party opponents ‘lunatics’
Premier Jason Kenney defends recorded comments calling party opponents ‘lunatics’ – Mar 25, 2022
Another was anger over the UCP executive deciding last week to alter the leadership review from an in-person vote to a broader mail-in ballot — a move, she said, that appears to favour Kenney.
Kenney has said if he gets 50 per cent plus one vote in the contest, he will stay on as leader.
Smith said leaders typically stick around if they get much higher approval ratings and that a bare majority is not a credible mandate to continue.
“If you cannot get a significant number of your own members behind you, ready to fight for you and with you, side-by-side going into the next election, you’re just not going to be able to beat the NDP,” she said.
Smith said it would be a mistake for the Opposition NDP to be dismissed as a “one-hit wonder.”
“They are not. They’re formidable. Rachel Notley — she knows the job, she’s known by Albertans. She’s not an unknown factor anymore.”
Smith said while she disagrees with some of Notley’s political views, she’s been surprised to hear many people in Alberta are willing to give the NDP another chance.
“You’re looking at the latest poll that shows that the NDP are ahead in Calgary, they’re ahead in Edmonton, they have 32 per cent in rural Alberta.
“So we can’t take it for granted that rural Alberta is going to stay UCP.”
Kenney, asked about Smith’s announcement, replied: “I’m not going to be distracted by voices of division.”
But Kenney later appeared to criticize Smith for allowing a candidate to run for the Wildrose in the 2012 election, despite the candidate’s past comments urging gays and lesbians to repent or suffer eternally in Hell’s “lake of fire.”
“An Alberta conservative party was blown out in an election in (2012) because of a failure of leadership to block extremists from getting on the party ballot,” said Kenney.
1:08 Kenney says he won’t allow repeat of ‘lake of fire’ incident when responding to question about Danielle Smith
Kenney says he won’t allow repeat of ‘lake of fire’ incident when responding to question about Danielle Smith
The current UCP MLA for Livingstone-Macleod is Roger Reid, an area businessman. Smith said she told Reid about her plan to seek the nomination on Wednesday.
“I just thought it was the decent thing to do, and he’s making his own decision about what his future is going to be,” Smith said.
Reid said on Friday he intends to run again.
“It has been the privilege of a lifetime to represent the people of Livingstone-Macleod in the Legislature for the last three years and I look forward to a rigorous nomination process in the coming months,” he said in a statement to Global News.
“I will run in this nomination with the same integrity and dedication to representing those same people. I do believe the best campaign is characterized by hard work and honesty.”
Smith became leader of the Wildrose party in 2009 as it flourished as a clutch of disaffected floor-crossing Progressive Conservatives who believed their party and government had abandoned core values of financial stringency and grassroots participation.
Under Smith, the Wildrose became the Official Opposition to the PCs in 2012. But three years later, Smith and eight other members of the Wildrose crossed the floor to join the PCs under then-premier Jim Prentice.
Alberta Premier Jim Prentice and former Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith speak to media after a caucus meeting in Edmonton Alta., Wednesday, December 17, 2014.
Jason Franson, The Canadian Press
It was a move done without grassroots party support and one Smith said she deeply regrets.
The move decimated the Wildrose, but it managed to survive under new leader and former Conservative MP Brian Jean to eventually merge with the PCs under Kenney in 2017 to form the UCP.
Jean is to be sworn in next week after winning a recent byelection for the UCP in the constituency of Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche.
Whether he will be allowed to sit in the UCP caucus is an open question, as Jean has made it clear that he believes the party is unelectable in 2023 without change at the top.
Jean has also not discounted the possibility of running for leader.
4:06 How will Brian Jean affect Jason Kenney’s
UCP leadership vote? Political analyst Jason Ribeiro weighs in
How will Brian Jean affect Jason Kenney’s
UCP leadership vote? Political analyst Jason Ribeiro weighs in – Mar 16, 2022
Meanwhile, the UCP faces angry opposition from dozens of its riding association presidents and backbench caucus members over the leadership review changes.
“All of this speaks to the deep divisions, factions, fractures, within the UCP and the challenge of anybody who wants to try to lead this party to both appeal to the folks on the far right and those who might be more moderate conservatives,” said Lori Williams, a political scientist with Mount Royal University in Calgary.
“I increasingly wonder if that’s possible to do.”
In recent years, Smith hosted a talk radio show on 770 CHQR in Calgary, a radio station owned by Corus, which is also the parent company of Global News. After six years on the airwaves, Smith quit her radio job last January.
New Brunswick voters have elected a Liberal majority government, tossing out the incumbent Progressive Conservatives after six years in power and handing the reins to the first woman ever to lead the province. Liberal Leader Susan Holt spent much of the campaign rolling out proposed fixes for a health-care system racked by a doctor shortage, overcrowded emergency rooms and long wait-times. She promised to open 30 community health clinics across the province by 2028. (Oct. 22, 2024)
Susan Holt has made history in New Brunswick by becoming the first woman to serve as the leader of the province’s Liberal Party, a significant milestone in the province’s political landscape. Holt’s leadership victory signals a new era of representation, gender equality, and change in the region, which has long been dominated by male politicians.
Holt’s journey to the top has been one of perseverance and dedication. Before entering politics, she built a distinguished career in the private sector, where she held numerous leadership positions. Her experience in business development and public policy has equipped her with the skills needed to navigate the complex world of politics.
In a province where women have historically been underrepresented in politics, Holt’s election represents a watershed moment. Women’s involvement in leadership roles has been steadily increasing nationwide, but New Brunswick, like many parts of Canada, has seen slower progress in achieving gender parity. Holt’s rise to the top of the Liberal Party not only shatters a glass ceiling but also serves as an inspiration for future generations of women aiming for political leadership.
As the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Party, Holt has laid out a vision of inclusivity and progress. Her policies focus on economic development, healthcare reform, environmental sustainability, and addressing social issues that have plagued the province. She has also emphasized the importance of transparent governance and creating opportunities for underrepresented communities, making her platform both modern and forward-thinking.
Holt’s leadership arrives at a time when many voters are calling for change, especially in the face of challenges like economic uncertainty and the need for healthcare improvements. She aims to bring fresh ideas to tackle these issues while ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their background, have a voice in government decisions.
Susan Holt joins the ranks of other trailblazing women across Canada who have led provincial parties and governments. Women like former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne have paved the way, and now Holt is contributing to this growing legacy of female political leadership in Canada.
Her achievement highlights not only the growing number of women entering politics but also the demand for leaders who can bring diverse perspectives to the table. In a field often dominated by entrenched traditions, Holt’s election is a step toward a more inclusive and representative political landscape in New Brunswick.
Holt’s leadership signals a broader shift in Canadian politics, where more women and diverse voices are gaining prominence. For young women across the country, her rise serves as a powerful reminder that leadership roles are within reach, even in traditionally male-dominated spheres.
With her election, Susan Holt has proven that perseverance, skill, and a vision for change can break even the toughest barriers. Her leadership will not only reshape New Brunswick’s political future but also inspire others across Canada to pursue leadership positions and continue to challenge the status quo.
NDP Leader Carla Beck has two planned campaign events today, starting the day with an availability in Moose Jaw and then later this evening attending an event in the capital with the Regina Medical Staff Association.
Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe, meanwhile, will speak in Prince Albert at the start of Voting Week in the province.
Saskatchewan residents can vote for five days starting today in the lead-up to next week’s provincial election, although polls won’t be open Sunday.
The NDP and the Saskatchewan Party are urging voters to cast their ballots early.
Voters can find their polling stations on their information cards or by visiting the Elections Saskatchewan website.
Chief electoral officer Michael Boda says there are about 810,000 registered voters in Saskatchewan.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2024.
