Stop the Hogs!

Nenshi, Notley lambaste Kenney as out of touch with Albertans

[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alb ... e30837658/ ]

Kelly Cryderman CALGARY — The Globe and Mail Published Friday, Jul. 08, 2016 8:06PM EDT Last updated Monday, Jul. 11, 2016 12:23PM EDT

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has lambasted Conservative MP Jason Kenney’s nascent campaign to unite Alberta’s small-c conservatives against the ruling NDP, saying it is a product of a bygone era.

Politicians locked horns on the first day of the Calgary Stampede, as Mr. Nenshi joined Alberta Premier Rachel Notley in her criticism of Mr. Kenney’s leadership push, saying he questioned whether Mr. Kenney’s message is reflective of the province’s modern political climate.

“The only advice I have for him is to be careful that he really understands who Albertans are these days,” the Calgary mayor said Friday of the former federal cabinet minister.

“He’s been in Ottawa for 19 years. He’s been travelling all the time. And the tone of his introductory speech didn’t seem to me to be deeply understanding of who Albertans are. But he’ll get it.”

Mr. Nenshi’s criticism of the well-connected Conservative MP was similar to comments from Ms. Notley.

She said Friday that her government is onside with most Albertans when it comes to issues, including the province’s aggressive climate-change strategy, or its push to make schools more inclusive of all students. She suggested Mr. Kenney is not.

“I believe that the vast majority of Albertans are with us on that matter and frankly are a little disturbed at the notion of being dragged back many, many years to a time when our government was less respectful of everybody’s rights,” Ms. Notley said of the schools issue.

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Jason Kenney's Fundraising Activities Questioned By Alberta NDP

[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/11 ... son-kenney ]

CP | By The Canadian Press Posted: 08/11/2016 1:02 pm EDT Updated: 08/11/2016 1:59 pm EDT

EDMONTON — The NDP wants Alberta's chief electoral officer to investigate Progressive Conservative leadership hopeful Jason Kenney's political fundraising activities.

The NDP says the review should also include Unite Alberta, Kenney's provincial political organization.

Kenney, who is a federal Conservative MP, announced last month that he is seeking to rally conservative voters in Alberta in a new party to defeat the NDP in the 2019 provincial election.

Official race hasn't started yet

The Progressive Conservative leadership race doesn't officially begin until October.

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[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/11 ... son-kenney ]

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Also on Huff Post:

WATCH: Jason Kenney's Gaffes - 1 of 18
[ http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2016/08/11 ... son-kenney ]
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Alberta Tory leadership candidate Jason Kenney fined after breaking campaign rules

[ http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/nat ... e32954415/ ]

Justin Giovannetti EDMONTON — The Globe and Mail

Published Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 8:40AM EST Last updated Monday, Nov. 21, 2016 9:47PM EST

Former federal cabinet minister Jason Kenney has been fined $5,000 by Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives after the party found his team broke rules as part of his leadership campaign.

The party’s chief returning officer reported Sunday that when warned Mr. Kenney’s tactics during a Nov. 16 delegate selection meeting were against the rules, a member of Mr. Kenney’s team brushed aside the concern after learning the only penalty was a fine.

“Fines wouldn’t be a problem for the Kenney camp,” Alan Hallman, Mr. Kenney’s scrutineer at the meeting, told PC Party president Katherine O’Neill, according to the report. The remark was made after Mr. Hallman was told what would happen if any leadership candidate entered the building where voting was being held.

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Jason Kenney's sleazy campaign tactics, explained: He's rolling the dice on a first-ballot win

[ http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/djclime ... lling-dice ]

By David J. Climenhaga | November 22, 2016

If you're surprised by reports Jason Kenney’s Progressive Conservative leadership campaign is treating the rules of the party he wants to lead with contempt, you haven't really been paying attention.

The behaviour that resulted in PC Party officials -- who more than anything else want to be able to present a happy and unified PC face to the province -- publicly levying a $5,000 fine against the former Harper cabinet minister's campaign is intrinsic to this effort to "unite the right."

Remember, this is a group that as a first step proposes to destroy the party they're campaigning to lead -- something traditional PC supporters are bound to view with disquiet -- and then merge it into another more radical party that many of the same long-time PCs actively dislike and distrust.

To succeed with a scheme this bold, they need to inject their supporters into the party in sufficient numbers to overcome natural resistance -- so it makes sense to strike fast and hard to roll up constituency association delegate votes as quickly as possible.

To such a mentality, it was worth the risk to have Kenney show up at the delegate selection meeting Nov. 16 in the Edmonton-Ellerslie riding despite the common-sense ban on all leadership candidates being there. After all, with a half million dollars of unaccounted-for money in the campaign slush fund, a $5,000 fine is a picayune sum.

Well, on Nov. 16 it didn't quite work -- in addition to the fine, the results of the vote were set aside and it will be held again at a date to be determined -- but the probability is high the same people will try the same sort of thing again.

The reason is simple: The Kenney brain trust understands that they probably have only one chance to put their plan into action before the true PC base starts to send out antibodies that will coalesce around one of the three remaining candidates who want to preserve the party in its traditional form.

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[ http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/djclime ... lling-dice ]

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David Climenhaga, author of the Alberta Diary blog, is a journalist, author, journalism teacher, poet and trade union communicator who has worked in senior writing and editing positions with the Toronto Globe and Mail and the Calgary Herald. His 1995 book, A Poke in the Public Eye, explores the relationships among Canadian journalists, public relations people and politicians. He left journalism after the strike at the Calgary Herald in 1999 and 2000 to work for the trade union movement. Alberta Diary focuses on Alberta politics and social issues.