RIGHT STUFF?
Kenney ponders PC leadership, source says
Conservative MP Jason Kenney is strongly considering leaving federal politics to run for the Progressive Conservative leadership in Alberta, a friend and longtime Tory strategist said Tuesday.
Tom Flanagan, a former adviser to ex-prime minister Stephen Harper and political scientist at the University of Calgary, said Kenney’s platform would include uniting Alberta’s two right-wing parties.
“If he won, he would be pledging to proceed very quickly to open negotiations with the Wildrose,” Flanagan said.
Flanagan’s statements came amid rumours that Kenney, a leading contender to replace Harper as leader of the federal party, would announce his intent to leave federal politics at the end of the summer.
The Calgary MP brought up the possibility of entering provincial politics to Flanagan at a dinner party a couple of weeks ago.
“He said he was thinking about it and hadn’t decided, so I don’t know whether he has subsequently made up his mind,” said Flanagan.
Troy Wason, executive director of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party, said he didn’t know whether Kenney had renewed the membership he had held in the past.
He said he’s heard rumblings but has had no indication Kenney is about to enter the Alberta PC leadership contest.
Wason noted the party has not chosen the date or the location for its leadership vote, which is slated to be held next spring. No other candidates have announced their intention to enter the race.
One provincial source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, is certain Kenney will not run federally for the Conservative leadership.
Though it is not certain Kenney will enter provincial politics, he has been taking steps for a potential run. The source said Kenney has been reaching out to “like-minded” Wildrose and PC MLAs.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he wants to run for the PC leadership on a unity platform, and then you get a bunch of people that normally wouldn’t vote PC coming in to support him,” said the source, who would consider backing Kenney.
A source connected to the federal Conservatives said there are numerous rumours floating around but nothing definitive.
Flanagan said the task of uniting the right in Alberta is daunting, considering Wildrose Leader Brian Jean hasn’t been enthusiastic about the idea. And after the spectacular fall of former premier Jim Prentice in the provincial election last spring, Flanagan said it would have to be done carefully and openly.
Prentice, a former federal Conservative, accepted 11 Wildrose floor-crossers, including then-leader Danielle Smith, into the PC fold in 2014. That event was later called a key factor in the PCs’ loss after more than four decades in power.
While Flanagan noted Kenney was a prolific fundraiser for the federal Conservatives, he said the Calgary MP would have to work to convince right-wing voters in Alberta. However, Flanagan said he’d support Kenney, should he run.
“Right now, the PCs have a sort of entrenched minority of institutional loyalists who control the party who might not like Jason as leader,” he said.
Kenney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.