‘Hateful views’ not welcome in UCP: Kenney
After a turbulent week that included the rejection of a nomination candidate due to anti-Islamic slurs, United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney told supporters the party will bar anyone who spouts similar views.
“Those who express hateful views towards entire groups of people are not welcome to run for the United Conservative Party,” Kenney said Sunday, speaking at an event billed as a unity anniversary rally. “I will make no apology for that.”
The comments referred to Todd Beasley, former candidate running for the UCP nomination in BrooksMedicine Hat. He was asked by the party to drop out of the race after posting anti-Islamic social slurs on social media in 2017.
He wrote that Islam “is not a religion of peace,” but rather is “cruel, revolting, racist, oppressive and has no legitimate basis,” and also described Muslims as “fools who are really worshipping Satan.”
Kenney told the 500-strong crowd at the Shaw Conference Centre — which didn’t quite fill the number of chairs set up — that UCP values include human dignity, equality of opportunity and freedom of religion.
“You cannot allow the extreme remarks of one individual to jeopardize the future of this province,” he said.
The rally marked one year since the Progressive Conservative and Wildrose parties joined forces to become the UCP, a merger that garnered overwhelming support from voting members.
Ninety-five per cent of ballots were cast in favour of the unity agreement in two separate party votes. The PCs reported a turnout of 55 per cent while about 57 per cent of Wildrose members voted.
Kenney was elected party leader in October after facing off against former Wildrose leader Brian Jean and Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer.
On Sunday, Kenney also praised more recent victories, referencing July byelection wins in InnisfailSylvan Lake and Fort McMurrayConklin.
He covered the gamut of political issues, from slamming the carbon tax to rehashing his criticisms of the NDP’s curriculum overhaul.
“In the days to come, I’ll be appointing platform committees to go out and consult with Albertans from all backgrounds,” he said, hearkening back to policy resolutions brought forward at the party’s May founding convention in Red Deer.
He said the platform released before the 2019 election will be a “common sense plan to reignite Alberta’s economy.”
Kenney called Edmonton ground zero in the race to lead the province.
“It will be at the centre of our strategic efforts,” he said. “We must fight for every seat in this city.”
The rally also followed MLA Prab Gill’s resignation from caucus last week. The former deputy UCP caucus whip and the member for Calgary- Greenway was the subject of an internal party investigation into allegations of ballot stuffing during a constituency meeting.
Gill won’t be seeking a UCP nomination for 2019. On Friday, Kenney commented on the internal review into Gill’s actions conducted by retired judge Ted Carruthers, a former Progressive Conservative party president. The review hasn’t been made public.
“What matters is that there was a very serious consequence as a result of that report and Mr. Gill is no longer in our caucus,” he said.