Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen raised a Point of Privilege in the legislature Monday against Premier Jason Kenney and Health Minister Tyler Shandro (Photo from the Alberta Legislature Assembly)

By Brian Conrad

lOST tRUST

Loewen, Barnes continue call for Kenney to resign as Premier

Jun 8, 2021 | 10:26 AM

Alberta’s two independent MLA’s want Jason Kenney to live up to his own standards and resign as party leader and Premier.

Central Peace-Notley member Todd Loewen and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes say Kenney’s apology for breaking public health restrictions during a rooftop dinner with other cabinet members a week ago “is no comfort to the many Alberta individuals and organizations that his government is currently targeting with legal action regarding public health restrictions.”

In a news release, the two former UCP members say the Premier’s actions are undermining the government’s business on a number of fronts.

“(Monday), for example, he held a press conference to outline this fall’s upcoming referendum on Equalization. This is a historic opportunity for Albertans to stand together and demand a fair deal from Ottawa,” says the release.

“Yet the Premier received only one media question about the referendum. The rest focused on his personal failure to live up to his own standards.”

Loewen and Barnes note that in January, in the wake of the COVID-19 travel scandal, the Premier said Albertans want there to be consequences.

In April, they say the Premier announced during a press conference he would expel any health restriction violators from the UCP caucus.

Barnes and Loewen say ”we believe the Premier must now live up to his own standards, accept the same sanctions he would apply to others, and step down as Premier and leader of the UCP party.”

Loewen also raised a point of privilege in the legislature Monday against the Premier and Health Minister Tyler Shandro accusing them of issuing misleading statements to Legislature members on Thursday where they denied any wrongdoing in Tuesday’s rooftop social gathering.

Kenney later apologized during a media conference Monday, admitting wrongdoing.

Speaker of the House Nathan Cooper ruled on the Point of Privilege Tuesday, saying Kenney did not intentionally mislead fellow members, saying it was entirely conceivable he believed he had not broken public health orders.

READ MORE: Kenney apologizes for controversial Sky Palace dinner

(CHAT News Today, with file from Shaun Penner)