Premier Kenney working out of Sky Palace, office confirms
Posted Jan 6, 2021 11:59 am.
Last Updated Jan 6, 2021 5:18 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
EDMONTON – Premier Jason Kenney’s office confirms he is working out of the penthouse known infamously as the Sky Palace.
Staff says it’s the best and safest solution, given Kenney had to temporarily move due to legislature renovations.
On the flip side, NDP Deputy Leader and Education Critic Sarah Hoffman is speaking out.
“The fact that he is defending luxury vacations from a luxury condo — that Alison Redford built — I think is pretty tone-deaf,” Hoffman said.
“There is a reason we didn’t use that space as offices and I think that the premier would’ve been smart to have reflected on that before he moved into the Sky Palace,” Hoffman added.
Former Premier and current Opposition Leader Rachel Notley refused to work out of the Sky Palace, calling it a politically radioactive zone and toxic symbol of entitlement.
A spokesperson for Kenney said the move is temporary and the premier’s office will return to the Legislature when construction on the east wing has been completed.
They added there were no costs associated with the temporary relocation.
Kenney hasn’t been seen since news broke several MLAs and government staffers vacationed overseas during Christmas despite public health advice.
“The premier needs to show some leadership, he needs to face the music and face the cameras and answer questions that the public and the media are asking,” Hoffman said.
Political Science professor at Mount Royal University Lori Williams says the premier should make himself available instead of being absent from the public.
“The problem is that he hasn’t learned the lesson of December that waiting to come before the media and the speculation of where is he, it looks like he is being indecisive and it looks like he is not leading.”
He posted to social media on Monday to announce the resignation of his chief of staff and municipal affairs minister along with other demotions.
“The fact that people are now connecting him with the Sky Palace, the problem with that is that now he is being connected to a previous premier who was turfed out and a lot of people are angry and want the premier to take responsibility for what’s happened here are now making a length to a previous government that people didn’t support or rejected and a leader who was turfed out by his own party. That’s a connection that’s not going to help him,” Williams added.
–With files from The Canadian Press
