EDMONTON Members of Premier Jason Kenney’s United Conservative Party caucus have voted to turf two of their own for challenging the leader.
Backbencher Todd Loewen was ejected Thursday night after publicly announcing earlier in the day the party is adrift and out of touch under Kenney and that the premier must quit before things spiral further.
Backbencher Drew Barnes had been the most vocal critic of the government s COVID-19 health restrictions, saying they are of questionable effect and an intolerable infringement on personal freedoms. He was also voted out. Members recognize the need for government caucus to remain strong and united behind our leader, Premier Jason Kenney, as we continue to fight through what looks to be the final stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, UCP whip Mike Ellis said in a statement.
EDMONTON The United Conservative Party (UCP) in Alberta has two fewer members within its ranks. The party caucus met Thursday evening to discuss a letter former UCP caucus chair Todd Loewen published announcing his resignation as chair and stating that Premier Jason Kenney was causing “dysfunction” within the party. MLAs from the party voted to remove Drew Barnes and Todd Loewen from the government caucus. “Members recognize the need for government caucus to remain strong and united behind our leader, Premier Jason Kenney, as we continue to fight through what looks to be the final stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” party whip Mike Ellis said in a statement.
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A veteran UCP backbencher’s call for Premier Jason Kenney’s resignation could have significant reverberations in Calgary and southern Alberta, local political scientists say.
In a letter posted to his Facebook page at 2 a.m. Thursday, MLA Todd Loewen called on Kenney to step down, saying Albertans, including himself, have lost faith in the premier’s leadership.
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Loewen also resigned his own role as UCP caucus chair, saying in the letter he needed to do so to speak freely, claiming Kenney has chosen to stop listening to his caucus members.
Barnes booted from UCP caucus
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Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes has been removed from the United Conservative caucus after the disgruntled official had been repeatedly and vocally opposing Premier Jason Kenney s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. NEWS FILE PHOTO
Local political observers say the UCP government is in trouble as the divisions in the party came to a head with the party’s MLA from the Peace Country and caucus chair penned a scathing letter released Thursday.
Todd Loewen blamed the caucus dysfunction on Albertans’ perception the government is out of touch and arrogant.