Kenney becomes first leader of United Conservative Party

Members of Alberta’s new United Conservative Family have selected their first ever leader.

Former federal cabinet minister Jason Kenney garnered over 61 percent of the vote from party members to defeat fellow leadership candidates Brian Jean and Doug Schweitzer.

Kenney was a key figure in bringing the Alberta Progressive Conservatives and Wildrose Party under one banner, claiming vote splitting was a major factor in leading to the election of the NDP as government in 2015.

Kenney will now take over an opposition caucus of 27 members, even though he does not hold a seat in the legislature.