UCP co-founder Brian Jean officially launches campaign to become party leader
The co-founder of Alberta’s governing United Conservative Get together has formally launched his marketing campaign to turn into the following chief, saying it’s crucial the occasion get again on observe by listening to folks and preventing for a greater deal in Confederation.
“Our management appeared entitled and conceited — telling us to do one factor whereas they acted like the foundations didn’t apply to them, sitting round being served Jameson whiskey on the Sky Palace balcony,” Brian Jean advised 150 cheering supporters Wednesday at a west-end resort.
“Unnecessary fights have been picked with the on a regular basis Albertans who’re central to our rural and small-city communities — our medical doctors, nurses and academics.
“We run the danger that the anger of on a regular basis Albertans will return us to the shrill anger of an NDP authorities.”
READ MORE: Who’s working within the Alberta UCP management race?
Jean stated his platform relies round preserving Alberta a proud province in Confederation however working exhausting to get a greater return on points similar to equalization funds.
Autonomy for Albertans is the central theme of his marketing campaign, stated Jean, including the time to start out is true now.
“Think about with me for a second the entire enhancements we are able to make to Canada over and above fixing equalization,” he stated.
“We will restore the imbalances in political illustration. We will be certain that no province can stop one other from promoting its items and companies to the remainder of the world. We will repair insufficient health-care funding.”
READ MORE: Jean calls Kenney mushy on Ottawa, will get verbal slap in return
Jean, a former Conservative MP, left politics in 2018 however returned and gained a byelection in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche in March.
He ran on a platform to unseat Kenney as premier, saying his insurance policies and authorities have been alienating Albertans and clearing a path for an NDP victory within the 2023 provincial election.
Kenney introduced he was stepping down a month in the past after gaining simply 51 per cent help in a celebration management overview.
Jean is one in every of eight candidates who’ve introduced they’ll run for the management, which is able to see a brand new chief, and premier, chosen Oct. 6.
Three left Kenney’s cupboard in current days with a purpose to run: Rebecca Schulz, Travis Toews, and Rajan Sawhney.
Additionally working is one other former Wildrose chief, Danielle Smith.
UCP backbencher, Leela Aheer, who was faraway from Kenney’s cupboard in 2021 after criticizing his response to the COVID-19 pandemic, can also be looking for the highest job, as is Unbiased Todd Loewen, who was voted out of Kenney’s caucus over a yr in the past for publicly calling for Kenney to give up.
The ultimate candidate is Invoice Rock, mayor of the village of Amisk.
On Twitter Wednesday evening, Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner stated she was contemplating a run.
READ MORE: Rempel Garner says she’s contemplating bid to turn into chief of UCP in Alberta
“I’ll make my determination primarily based on the conversations I’ve with the folks I characterize — Albertans,” she wrote.
