Kenney draws fire for quips about PM
Opposition leader Jason Kenney — who has repeatedly lauded the importance of civility and decorum in the house — came under fire for insulting remarks he made about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a Calgary Sun column published Wednesday, Kenney described Trudeau as “an empty trust-fund millionaire who has the political depth of a finger bowl.
“He can’t read a briefing note longer than a cocktail napkin,” the United Conservative Party leader was quoted saying.
Premier Rachel Notley said the comments displayed a tremendous amount of personal hostility toward Trudeau.
“I would suggest that anyone who is presenting themselves as being equipped to lead the province needs to learn very quickly to rise above his own personal hostilities,” she said at a news conference about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
STANDS BY HIS COMMENTS
Kenney stood by his comments and said he used “colourful language.
“I was asked whether I thought he understood what was going on with Kinder Morgan — I honestly don’t,” he told reporters.
The former federal Conservative cabinet minister said he had enormous respect for the vast majority of his parliamentary colleagues in Ottawa.
“But I’m not going to cover for a prime minister who is allowing this attack on our vital economic interests.”
Kenney has repeatedly promised civility during debate in the provincial legislature.
“I and our caucus will raise the bar of civility and decorum in the legislature, and in the course of the next 16 months before the next election,” Kenney told supporters in a January speech after he was sworn in as an MLA.
He has also complained about heckling in the legislature, arguing question period has devolved into “a ping-pong match of insults and partisan attacks.”
REVEALING HIS ‘PERSONAL GRUDGE’
Government house leader Brian Mason said Kenney has been “Mr. Civility” in the house, but it’s a pose.
“I know what that caucus is really like,” Mason told reporters. “I think he’s let the mask drop a bit here and revealed his own personal grudge.”
Whether he likes Trudeau or not, someone who wants to be premier shouldn’t use derogatory language toward the prime minister, Mason said, adding building relationships with people across the aisle is part of the job.
Mason said Kenney is out of touch with Albertans.
“When he was in Ottawa, he may have had finger bowls and cocktail napkins, but ordinary people don’t have those things and he needs to remember that,” he said.
I was asked whether I thought he understood what was going on with Kinder Morgan — I honestly don’t.