‘More scandals’ ahead for UCP, former MLA says
Gill writes note to ex-colleagues claiming Kenney interfering in nominations
Former United Conservative MLA Prab Gill has warned his ex-caucus colleagues of more UCP nomination scandals that could deflate the party’s chances in the upcoming election.
In an email obtained by Postmedia, Gill pleaded with MLAs Wednesday afternoon to “pressure (leader) Jason Kenney into clearing the air” about the host of allegations over internal UCP machinations.
Those include Jeff Callaway being a kamikaze leadership candidate to take down former Wildrose leader Brian Jean, and a host of nomination shenanigans including allegations by MLA Wayne Anderson of possible irregularities in Highwood, and an apparent fraudulent nomination in Calgary-East, which Kenney has said the party is taking seriously.
“(Kenney) has almost unlimited power in the party and I am sure that if he wants to, he can force everyone to open their bank accounts and show that he is not guilty of this. I worry about what his silence on this means,” Gill wrote.
“Giving the NDP a chance to surge in the polls because we did not deal with a problem that we know is coming would be a disaster.”
In his email, Gill made a point of appealing to UCP MLAs not running in 2019.
“Push the hardest and be the bravest on demanding honour. You are not seeking re-election, Jason Kenney can’t do anything to you,” he wrote.
“You have the chance to end your political careers in service to higher ideals. Wayne (Drysdale), Wes (Taylor), Scott (Cyr), Dave (Schneider), Pat (Stier) when the history of 2019 is written will you be proud of everything you did?”
Speaking with Postmedia, Gill said if the UCP doesn’t address the issues, they will “haunt” the party.
The letter to his former colleagues isn’t the first time Gill has criticized Kenney and party brass since he was turfed from the UCP caucus following ballot-stuffing allegations. In December, he used a rare point of privilege in the legislature to blast the UCP over “crooked and racist nomination politics.”
Gill dismissed any suggestion his complaints are sour grapes.
If that were the case, he said, why has former MLA Rick Strankman quit the UCP to sit as an independent and former MLA and UCP constituency association board member Ian Donovan quit — both citing complaints of top-down party control?
“Why is there chaos in the party? This isn’t sour grapes, the party is in crisis because of the leadership,” Gill said.
United Conservative caucus spokesperson Christine Myatt told Postmedia it’s hard to see Gill as a credible voice after the former judge investigating the ballot stuffing allegations wrote he was “unable to accept Mr. Gill’s position.”
“The circumstances of Mr. Gill’s departure from the UCP Caucus are well known,” Myatt wrote.
“(Kenney) regularly speaks to his caucus, as well as the general membership. In fact, last night he held both a tele-town hall and Facebook live, and addressed a host of issues.”
But Gill is firm in his message. “There are more scandals coming,” he wrote, and UCP MLAs must speak up about what they know.
“Conservatism in Alberta doesn’t exist just to serve one person ... We were promised a grassroots guarantee, instead we have a ‘my way or the highway,’” Gill wrote.
“You all have a duty to conservatism to speak up for what’s right. If Kenney’s scandals cause the NDP to win again, you will have to explain that to Albertans.”
We were promised a grassroots guarantee, instead we havea‘myway or the highway.’ You all have a duty to conservatism to speak up for what’s right.