Ford, Kenney delighted to be allies

It was a love-in for the carbon crusading dynamic duo.

Alberta’s rookie Premier Jason Kenney arrived at Queen’s Park early Friday for his first official meeting with Premier Doug Ford.

“I can’t even wipe the smile off my face,” a beaming Ford told Kenney as they posed for media cameras in his office. “What a great ally.” Ford, a Progressive Conservative who backed his United Conservative counterpart in the recent Alberta election that toppled New Democrat Rachel Notley, expressed delight at having another Tory at the premiers’ table.

“We’re fortunate to have such a great person leading the province,” Ford said. Along with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Kenney is a backer of Ford’s $30-million fight against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon-pricing measures that took effect on April.

Their carbon campaign suffered a setback later Friday when the Saskatchewan Court of Appeal delivered a 3-2 ruling that the federal measure is constitutional.

The Alberta premier also used his visit to tout the new regime in Edmonton.

“I appreciate everything you’re doing to show Ontario is open for business. I’ve got to tell you, I’m in Toronto to tell Bay Street that Alberta’s open for business,” Kenney said, referring to his Canadian Club luncheon speech at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel.

Ford said that’s “good for Alberta and good for Ontario and is good for the country.”

“A rising tide lifts all boats and we’ve got to work together,” Kenney agreed.

His visit came one day after a tense stop on Parliament Hill.

In Ottawa on Thursday, Kenney warned Trudeau that Canada faces a national unity crisis if federal environmental policies undermine Alberta’s oil industry. While in the capital, the Albertan had invoked former Quebec separatist premier René Lévesque and reminded the prime minister that the national energy policy inflicted on the West by his father, former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, still resonates.