The talk comes amid fears that Kenney’s leadership review attempt will be a repeat of his 2017 campaign to win party leadership over rivals Brian Jean, now MLA UCP for Fort McMurray-Lac la Biche, and Doug Schweitzer , the current Minister of Jobs, Economy. and innovation. The RCMP continues to investigate allegations of fraud and identity theft related to the 2017 vote. The special general assembly will be convened at 11 a.m. and the entire event will be streamed online to registered members of the UCP – a major change from the original plan for a one-day personal vote at Red Deer. The party changed the review to a mail-in vote, arguing that the number of new members registered to vote exceeded the capacity of the Red Deer venue. Critics of the prime minister say the UCP executive changed the process because thousands of new members were likely to vote against Kenney’s leadership. Kenney’s personal popularity has grown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The Alberts are furious with him either because he did too little – or too much – to limit the spread of the virus. A vocal section of UCP members has expressed frustration with Kenney’s top-down leadership style and willingness to ignore the base’s wishes. The review was originally due to take place in the fall of 2022, but has moved upwards as more than a quarter of constituency associations met the requirements under party statutes to request an earlier date. The unions wanted a review before March 1st, but the party’s board decided on April 9th as the date for the initial in-person vote. The change to a postal ballot means Kenney will not know his fate until May 18. Earlier this week, Kenney’s leadership review campaign published a letter signed by 19 former PC and Wildrose MLA MPs. They argued that voting against Kenney would mean the party would have to run for leadership this fall, which would give the UCP some time to prepare for the May 2023 provincial election and lead to an NDP-majority government. . In a recording that leaked to the media, Kenney told officials that he decided before Christmas not to resign to prevent the “crazy” and “neat” from taking over their “mainstream conservative party.” Former Wildrose leaders Danielle Smith and Brian Jean have said they will run for office. Jean was sworn in as the UCP MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac la Biche on Thursday after winning the March 15 run-off election. The following is the schedule as described by UCP: April 9 – Kenney is scheduled to deliver a keynote address to registered party members shortly after the UCP Virtual Annual General Meeting convenes at 11 a.m. Following Kenney’s speech, the party will conduct electoral readiness training for volunteers. The SGM will be suspended until May 18, when the party will announce the results. April 10 – The party says it will start posting ballots to members after April 9. Each package will contain an instruction sheet, with the ID that a member must provide, a return envelope and the actual ballot. Members will mail the ballot to the auditing firm hired to oversee the voting process. May 11 – All ballots must be received by 5pm May 12 – Volunteers will begin verifying members’ identities and signed statements. The presidents, treasurers and secretaries of the UCP’s 87 constituencies will be able to monitor the process. The party says a “neutral returning officer” will handle the whole process. Former Progressive Conservative MLA and Cabinet Secretary Rick Orman replaces Steve McLeod as an officer who returned last week. May 18 – Counting of ballots. The party is convening a virtual special assembly to announce the result.
