Jean calls for purge of bigoted ‘freaks’ from UCP ranks

Former United Conservative Party leadership hopeful Brian Jean says his old party needs to “stop playing footsy with freaks.”

Jean took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon to lambaste the UCP for its links to hate groups, following a story by Press Progress that a former volunteer with Jason Kenney ’s leadership campaign has links to an online store that sells white supremacist memorabilia.

The UCP and Kenney “need to kick these weirdos out of the party for the sake of decency,” Jean wrote.

“They should never have been there in the first place. There is no place for hate and bigotry in our society or political landscape. Stop playing footsy with freaks!”

Kenney issued a statement later Tuesday saying neither he nor his staff were aware of the volunteer’s extreme views.

Kenney said he has ordered that the man’s UCP membership be cancelled, and that he has asked the party to develop a screening process to try to block people with hateful views from becoming members.

“We will not tolerate individuals with hateful views who seek to associate with a party that is unequivocally committed to human dignity and pluralism,” the statement said.

Spokesperson Christine Myatt said the man has had nothing to do with Kenney’s office nor the upcoming provincial election campaign.

She added he hasn’t been involved with the party in any capacity since the UCP leadership vote.

HEALTH GROUPS URGE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO TEEN VAPING

A coalition of health organizations wants Health Minister Sarah Hoffman to bring forward regulations to curtail what they say is an “explosive rise” in vaping by Alberta youth.

Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two provinces without laws to regulate vaping devices.

The rate of vaping among Alberta high school students almost tripled between 2015 and 2017, according to the Canadian Student Tobacco and Drugs Survey, and health groups worry the sale and promotion of alluring, high-nicotine “stealth” vaping devices could make matters worse.

Angeline Webb of the Canadian Cancer Society says Hoffman must bring forward regulations to close loopholes in the federal vaping legislation passed in May.

“Alberta youth deserve firstclass protection from nicotine addiction in all of its forms,” she said.