Alberta
Kenney’s Leadership Review is a Circus – Red Deer South UCP MLA Jason Stephan
This opinion editorial submitted by Red Deer South MLA Jason Stephan
Alberta’s legislature begins with a daily prayer asking leaders to “never lead the province wrongly through love of power”.
Our political system does require reform, concentrating too much power in the hands of the Premier.
Other than elections, leadership reviews are vital checks and balances against autocratic ambitions. It is a serious matter to meddle with the few checks and balances for the public that remain.
The UCP leadership review has become a spectacle and a circus.
Fundamentally moving goalposts, after deadlines, destroys trust and integrity of process. It provides opportunities to cheat.
The party executive first chose a process that suppressed member participation. Many grassroots members and CA boards raised concerns about this, which the executive ignored and rejected.
Many are concluding the leader was losing his vote, under his preferred rules, so he metaphorically grabbed the ball and ran away.
Many are concluding these fundamental changes in process, after deadlines, seek to manipulate the outcome of the vote.
Many do not trust this new process has not, or will not, be rigged.
Last week I stood in the legislature and said:
“Some politicians label those who agree with them as the mainstream; while those who disagree with them as fringe minorities, extremists, or threats undermining stability.”
Kenney is doing what he condemned Trudeau for doing.
“Some politicians say of course we can have unity – if only you would agree with me!
That is not unity. That is ridiculous.
We are governed by laws, not by individuals, and our paramount loyalties are to principles, not office holders.”
Kenney says those who vote to change him as leader undermine unity and stability.
That is self-serving. “Stability” was also used by Trudeau as a self-serving excuse to justify his pact with the NDP.
Some politicians say vote for Kenney or there will be divisions in the party!
They are too late – divisions are upon us and sometimes this leader has increased, rather than decreased, them.
We have seen too much dividing, too much labelling, sometimes change in leadership is required to heal, to unite and move forward.
Some politicians say vote for Kenney, we cannot risk the NDP getting back in!
Albertans are tired of politicians using fear as a tool.
Conservative policies, regardless of the leader, increase economic prosperity. With oil over $100, a conservative government budget would be balanced, with or without Kenney.
The ends do not justify the means and so this leader does not enjoy the trust of most Albertans. This recent development only amplifies and reinforces those feelings.
Kenney is less popular than the party. Is it in the best interests of our party, our province, to go into an election hoping to win, in spite of the leader? Isn’t that too much to risk, as we cannot risk the NDP getting back in!
Some politicians say vote for Kenney, we need him to get Alberta a fair deal! What has he accomplished so far? If he is not fair, where his moral authority to demand Ottawa to be fair?
With Trudeau forming an axis with the NDP, we do need to prepare ourselves for the real possibility of further hostile, targeted attacks that harm Alberta businesses and families.
The Premier of Alberta needs to be respected and trusted by Albertans to fearlessly defend our interests. The current Premier does not have that.
Some politicians say vote for Kenney or you get someone worse!
More fear. To assume that any one person is the only one who could be the leader of our party is a false assumption.
There are many honest and principled Alberta men and women who would be great leaders of our party.
Politics should not be a career. It is a special opportunity to serve and having contributed one’s experiences and talents, one should step aside and allow others to do the same.
The Premier’s leadership, and now his unprecedented efforts to full out campaign and control the results of his own review have become a circus, a distraction, and a liability to the province and the party.
Confidence is lost, and for the good of the party, for the province, the Premier should be gracious, resign and support a positive leadership race for a new leader to unite the party and the province.
“Dividing and labelling others only produces contention and destroys trust.
That is not leadership.”
This is true.
“Great leaders lead in love and inspire the best in those they serve.”
This is what we need.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith issued the following statement, welcoming the U.S. tariff reprieve and calling for strategic action:
“Alberta is pleased to see that today President Donald Trump has decided to refrain from imposing tariffs on Canadian goods at this time as they study the issue further.
“We appreciate the implied acknowledgement that this is a complex and delicate issue with serious implications for American and Canadian workers, businesses and consumers given the integration of our markets, along with our critical energy and security partnership.
“Avoiding tariffs will save hundreds of thousands of Canadian and American jobs across every sector. As an example, declining to impose U.S. tariffs on Canadian energy preserves the viability of dozens of U.S. refineries and facilities that upgrade Alberta crude, and the jobs of tens of thousands of Americans employed at them.
“Despite the promising news today, the threat of U.S. tariffs is still very real. As a country, we need to immediately take the following steps to preserve and strengthen our economic and security partnership with the United States, and to avoid the future imposition of tariffs:
- Focus on diplomacy and refrain from further talk of retaliatory measures, including export tariffs or cutting off energy to the U.S. Having spoken with the President, as well as dozens of governors, senators, members of congress and allies of the incoming administration, I am convinced that the path to a positive resolution with our U.S. allies is strong and consistent diplomacy and working in good faith towards shared priorities. The worst possible response to today’s news would be the federal government or premiers declaring “victory” or escalating tensions with unnecessary threats against the United States.
- Negotiate ways to increase what Canadians and Americans buy from one another. As an example, the United States should look at purchasing more oil, timber and agricultural products from Canada, while Canada should look at purchasing more American gas turbines, military equipment and the computer hardware needed to build our growing AI data centre sector. Finding ways to increase trade in both directions is critical to achieving a win-win for both countries.
- Double down on border security. Within the next month, all border provinces should either by themselves, or in partnership with the federal government, deploy the necessary resources to secure our shared border from illegal drugs and migration.
- Announce a major acceleration of Canada’s 2 per cent of GDP NATO target. This is clearly a shared priority that benefits both of our nations. There is no excuse for further delay.
- Crack down on immigration streams and loopholes that are known to permit individuals hostile to Canada and the United States to enter our country, and restore immigration levels and rules to those under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
- Immediately repeal all federal anti-energy policies (production cap, Clean Electricity Regulations, Impact Assessment Act [Bill C-69]) and fast track Northern Gateway and Energy East projects pre-approvals.”
Alberta
Premier Danielle Smith In Washington for Trump Inauguration Promoting a New Era of Partnership with the U.S.
Premier Smith at dinner with Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott. Facebook
Premier Danielle Smith will travel to Washington, D.C. to solidify Alberta as the answer to North American energy, food and data security during the week of President-elect Trump’s inauguration.
While in the U.S. capital from Jan. 18 to 23, Premier Smith will meet with key decision makers, governors, members of Congress and private sector leaders. Alberta’s on-the-ground presence will help build relationships and start critical conversations that will lay the groundwork for collaboration with the new U.S. administration and reap benefits for Albertans, Canadians and Americans.
Premier Smith will champion Alberta as the largest exporter of oil and gas to the U.S. and highlight the unprecedented opportunity that lies ahead for Alberta to work collaboratively with the new administration to develop secure supply chains and strengthen energy security for the U.S. and Canada. Alberta’s approximately USD $100 billion in energy exports to the U.S. are upgraded into USD $300 billion in value-added products by American workers at refineries in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and other states, and then sold by American companies all over the world.
“Given the serious threats of tariffs, it is imperative that we do everything we can to engage directly with the incoming administration, members of Congress and key officials to emphasize Alberta’s critical role in North American energy security and economic prosperity. In all my meetings and events in Washington, D.C. I will work to ensure Alberta is recognized as a partner of choice for establishing North American energy security, to reinforce our century-long friendship and to further solidify our trade relationship that greatly benefits both Americans and Canadians.”
This visit will build on the Premier’s previous discussions with the President-elect, key members of his cabinet and other elected officials. With the ongoing threat of tariffs on all Canadian products, including those from Alberta’s leading industries, meeting with officials face-to-face is crucial. This work is a continuation of the efforts that were discussed by all Premiers to do all they could to build bridges with the U.S.
Conversations will also focus on highlighting the deep economic ties that underpin our economies and how they contribute to creating jobs and prosperity on both sides of the border in industries like energy, agriculture, forestry, manufacturing and technology.
Premier Smith will travel with five staff members. Mission expenses will be posted on the travel and expense disclosure page.
Quick facts
- The U.S. is Alberta’s largest trading partner and Alberta is the second-largest provincial exporter to the U.S.
- In 2023, Alberta’s exports to the U.S. totalled USD $115.58 billion, accounting for about 90 per cent of total provincial exports in 2023.
- Energy products accounted for about USD $94.4 billion, or 82 per cent, of the province’s exports to the U.S.
- Other important export sectors included plastics, forestry, meat and machinery.
- Alberta’s government has also launched the Alberta is the Answer campaign, a targeted advertisement campaign focused on reaching key decision makers in the U.S. and amplifying Alberta’s message on the energy partnership it has with the U.S. and how this partnership can grow.
Itinerary for Premier Smith*
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Why Alberta?
Alberta is one of the most reliable and secure energy partners for the U.S.
Alberta and the U.S. share the same values – and a border. Alberta is the friendly, freedom-loving democracy right next door.
Alberta has the fourth largest oil reserves on earth, and significant natural gas resources. Alberta already accounts for 56% of all oil imports to the U.S. – twice as much as Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Iraq combined – which is helping to drive job creation and prosperity on both sides of the border. The U.S. must import crude oil in order to refine it and produce light oil, which they export around the world, and Alberta believes that we are a far better trading partner than Iran, Iraq, or Venezuela.
Alberta is also the largest producer of natural gas in Canada and remains positioned to support the U.S. in filling their domestic supply gaps, currently accounting for nearly 60% of U.S. total annual natural gas imports. The reliability and security of those imports cannot be understated.
Furthermore, Alberta has a stronger environmental record, stronger democratic institutions and stronger human rights standards than other energy producers.
This is a win-win relationship. Alberta’s approximately U.S. $100 billion in energy exports to the U.S. is upgraded into U.S. $300 billion in value-added products by American workers at refineries in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and other states, and then sold by American companies all over the world.
More than 450,000 kilometres of pipelines already link Canada and the U.S. – enough to circle the Earth 11 times. The province also has ambitions to double its oil production by 2050, and increase its pipeline capacity significantly. Enabling Alberta to export even more crude oil to the U.S. This will help the U.S. achieve global energy dominance and increase energy affordability for Americans.
Alberta is a global leader in responsible oil and gas production
Alberta is the top foreign supplier of energy products to the United States. Alberta has been a global leader in responsible energy production for decades, leveraging cutting-edge technologies that allow the province to continue increasing production while protecting our air, water, and land for generations to come.
Alberta is unapologetic in its goal to increase oil and gas production to meet the world’s basic needs and maintain the quality of life we all enjoy in North America. The province is doing so responsibly and will continue to lead the way with new technologies that support this ambition.
Reliable Alberta energy will fuel the technologies of the future
As the world becomes increasingly electrified, the need for reliable energy is growing and Alberta has the resources to meet that demand.
The province is home to world-class energy industry leaders with the expertise developers are looking for to find innovative solutions to meet their energy needs. Coupled with Alberta’s competitive power market structure, natural incentives for cost-savings and a government committed to reducing red tape, Alberta is a premier destination for AI data centres.
Alberta’s AI data centre strategy arose from a pressing need for AI data centres in North America – a need that is in fact global. With the rapid growth of AI and machine learning, global demand for data centre capacity is expected to triple by 2031.
Alberta is a trusted and safe partner of the U.S. that has the capacity and resources to support these data centres and ensure that U.S. companies remain on the forefront of AI technology and that the U.S. maintains its technology dominance.
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