UCP will lose next election under current leadership: Brian Jean

Former Alberta Wildrose leader Brian Jean says if the premier doesn’t resign–and the UCP doesn’t make big changes–Rachel Notley and the NDP will win an overwhelming majority in the next election.

Jean says trust is something that needs to happen in the UCP, not just for Albertans but for party membership.

Within the party, he says, there is still mistrust stemming from the leadership race which continues to be investigated by the RCMP.

“I think Albertans have noticed that there’s only one minister in this government and that’s the premier.  He’s the only minister making decisions and I have seen clearly an exodus from the boards, an exodus from the membership. They’ve lost a significant amount of members, I think 80 or 90 per cent of the members have left since that leadership race.  I’m, of course, very concerned.”

“Remember, the RCMP investigation is still underway. The RCMP have been very clear that they’re not giving up on this investigation, that they’re investigating the leadership race for fraud and for other things,” said Jean.

Jean indicates he’s also concerned about efforts to thwart his bid to win the UCP nomination in Fort McMurray-Lac la Biche.

RELATED: Former Alberta Wildrose leader seeking UCP nomination

“There’s going to be people that are from the UCP or Jason Kenney loyalists that will not want me to win the nomination. And there are people within the NDP that want the NDP to win the next election and therefore they’re going to do everything they possibly can to make sure that I’m not in the next election,” Jean told CityNews.

“They don’t want me to be an option for Albertans because they know what will happen.”

Jean says his team is watching closely to try to ensure things will run smoothly. He says there could be a vote on the nomination in as little as 10 days.

“So things are moving along very quickly. And the person with the most votes in a nomination wins and that’s what it comes down to as long as there’s no foul play,” he said.

RELATED:

• ‘Question his reliability’: Kenney responds to Brian Jean running for UCP nomination

• Premier Jason Kenney brushes off Brian Jean’s comments about UCP leadership

Jean announced he’d be seeking the UCP nomination in the riding in northern Alberta earlier this month.  He has been vocal in criticizing Kenney and has called on Kenney to resign.

Premier Jason Kenney responded to that announcement by questioning Jean’s reliability but saying he would endorse him if that’s what the party wanted.

“Mr. Jean has been trying to destabilize our party for going on three -years now. I regard that as a distraction, we are focused on doing the people’s business, right now? Economic recovery,” Kenney added.

Jean would be running to fill the void left by Laila Goodridge, who left provincial politics to run in this year’s federal election.

Elections Alberta says a vote would need to be called within six months of her departure. So, we should see a by-election prior to Feb. 15, 2022.