Former premier Jason Kenney resigns his seat in Alberta’s legislature | 24CA News

Jason Kenney, the previous chief of the UCP who served as Alberta’s 18th premier till final month, has introduced he’s resigning from his seat because the MLA for Calgary-Lougheed efficient instantly.

“A different government is in place, and the next election will occur in a few months,” Kenney wrote in a press release posted to Twitter.

“So after a great deal of reflection and consultation, I have concluded that now is the best time for me to step aside as MLA.” 

Kenney stated that he was proud to have led a authorities that delivered on nearly all of its election commitments, however stated that now’s the suitable time for him to step away from public workplace after 25 years in elected politics, together with as a federal MP.

He additionally wrote to the speaker of the legislature to tell him of his choice. 

In his public assertion, Kenney stated he believes Canada and Alberta are, in some ways, the envy of the world. But he additionally expressed his wariness concerning the present state of politics.

“I am concerned that our democratic life is veering away from ordinary prudential debate towards a polarization that undermines our bedrock institutions and principles,” he wrote.

“From the far left we see efforts to cancel our history, delegitimize our historically grounded institutions and customs, and divide society dangerously along identity lines.

“And from the far proper we see a vengeful anger and poisonous cynicism which frequently seeks to tear issues down, quite than construct up and enhance our imperfect establishments.” 

Kenney, 54, was the premier of Alberta and the leader of the UCP from 2019 to 2022. In May, he announced his resignation from the premiership after winning a leadership review narrowly by 51.4 per cent.

In October, UCP voters tapped Danielle Smith to succeed him.

Prior to leading the UCP, Kenney was the last leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party that merged with the Wildrose Party to form the UCP. 

Before becoming a figure in Alberta’s provincial politics, Kenney had served as an MP and was a cabinet minister when Stephen Harper was prime minister.

He was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 for the Reform Party.

Timing of resignation

Kenney’s decision to resign came on the day that Premier Danielle Smith’s government tabled the Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act.

One political watcher said Kenney’s announcement appears to highlight his disapproval of the current premier’s decisions and of the direction that politics are headed in.

“He might’ve delivered this resignation at any time, the truth that he did it instantly after the disclosing of the sovereignty act, I do not assume is coincidental,” said Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams.

“He did not need to be related to trying as if he wished to be endorsing any of this … clearly, he has not supported Danielle Smith.”