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Many UCP politicians and activists are furious with Prime Minister Jason Kenney for blaming forced militants for leaving vaccines
Author of the article:
Don Braid • Calgary Herald
Date Posted:
June 1, 2022 • 3 hours ago • 3 minutes of reading • 24 comments Prime Minister Jason Kenney announces his intention to resign after receiving only 51.4% of the votes of the UCP leadership. Photo by Jim Wells / Postmedia
Content of the article
Many UCP politicians and activists are furious with Prime Minister Jason Kenney for blaming his forced departure of anti-vaccine activists.
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“Why is this guy still allowed in front of a microphone, saying things like that?” says a prominent UCP MP, who is asking not to be appointed.
“It’s frustrating and divisive and it doesn’t reflect where Alberta as a whole is going. It’s time to move on.”
Party critics say Kenney refuses to admit his own mistakes, which he considers a far more important factor in the party’s rebellion than sentiment against vaccines.
Kenney’s pass score was only 51.4 percent. He announced his resignation on May 18, to take effect when a new leader is elected.
Longtime Conservative activist Al Browne chaired regular meetings of 33 UCP presidents who were generally unhappy with Kenney.
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During many conversations, Browne says, “Every president I dealt with told me they were vaccinated.
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“In 16 months, I haven’t had a person talk about antivax. I don’t know where these antivax people are, maybe in Saskatchewan?
“But have I heard of coal mining on the eastern slopes? Yes.
“Have I heard of doctors, nurses, resumes, too much Ottawa staff? Yes.
“I do not know why he is still talking about anti-Vascists. I’m not a psychiatrist, so I can’t tell you. “
Rob Smith, president of Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, said there was a “top-down attitude towards government” with Kenney at the helm. Photo by David Bloom / Postmedia
Rob Smith, president of the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills Riding Association, says the talks were often related to “the party is about Kenney.
“It was not respected at the base, there was an ivory tower atmosphere where deputies and even ministers were off the circuit. There is a top-down attitude towards the government. “
“The fact that his party said ‘we don’t want you’, and he’s still trying to blame these few anti-vaccine people, doesn’t help anyone.
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“But I don’t think we’re going to see any level of Kenney’s contrition. That’s why I was against him staying as the leader.”
In his remarks on Tuesday, Kenney mentioned nothing but vaccine militancy as a factor in the disastrous vote.
Speaking to reporters, Kenney blamed “a small but highly motivated, well-organized and very angry group of people who believe that I and the government have been promoting a part of some globalist agenda, and vaccines are at the heart of it.” .
“I don’t think most of these people have ever been in a dominant center-right party before, and I suspect a lot of them won’t be in the future.”
Although he said the group was “small”, Kenney also claimed that a “large” number of members were bought by people who had never been members of the UCP before and probably belonged to far-right marginal parties. .
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People protest COVID-19 vaccinations in front of Calgary City Hall on January 6, 2021. Photo by Azin Ghaffari / Postmedia
Kenney is giving extreme antivax militants much more credit than they deserve. People who analyzed the vote do not believe that its influence was significant, especially after the party froze the sales of members and only then announced the vote by mail.
Another UCP MLA said: “Jason Kenney didn’t lose just because of COVID and the vaccine. That’s not true. He lost because he spent the last year blaming other people for the mistakes he made. And he continues to do so today.
“That’s exactly why I shouldn’t continue as a leader now. Since all candidates will have to answer, do you think Jason Kenney is out because of the anti-vaxxers?
UCP MPs have agreed among themselves not to talk about divisive internal issues, but some are so angry at Kenney’s comments that they were willing to talk without names.
They are often bothered to be vaccinated against anti-vaccination measures when they oppose measures such as passports, but they choose to vaccinate themselves. It’s a tricky dynamic that Kenney now uses to divert guilt from other issues that cost him his prime job.
The Prime Minister’s political reputation stems from two factors: his long run of electoral victories and his reputation as an unbeatable organizer.
On May 18 he damaged both. It must be difficult to accept.
The Don Braid column appears regularly in the Calgary Herald.
Twitter: @DonBraid
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