Ag Corp. gets new leader, Kenney can’t recall comment

The Agriculture Financial Services Corp. announced its new chief executive officer Monday.

Steve Blakely takes the top job effective May 1.

His appointment officially plugs the power gap left at the Crown corporation when the entire board was sacked by the government in June 2016 over unnecessary travel on the taxpayers’ dime, and gifts of booze, theatre tickets and rounds of golf.

Blakely brings in excess of 40 years of financial industry experience to the position.

KENNEY CAN’T RECALL ‘VIRUS’ COMMENT

Jason Kenney said Monday he doesn’t recall comments he made 20 years ago about the Vriend decision, which made it illegal to fire someone for being gay.

The United Conservative Party leader was responding to reporters after being asked in the legislature by Calgary-Hawkwood NDP MLA Michael Connolly to attend a forum on the decision, and apologize for calling the decision a “virus” of judicial activism.

At the time, Kenney wanted Alberta to use the notwithstanding clause to overrule it, saying, “If the court rules to enforce gay rights, and the Alberta government rolls over, they will clearly be implicated in the decision.”

The NDP has regularly brought up Kenney’s social conservative voting record. Kenney said Monday he rarely hears concerns on the doorstep, adding in 2016 he supported a motion to remove the traditional definition of marriage from federal Conservative party policy, “recognizing the law and social mores have changed.”

“I have friends in gay marriages and I wish them well,” he said.