UCP MLA and leadership hopeful Brian Jean challenged his colleague Shane Getson to a fist fight as tensions rose during last week’s caucus meeting in which MLAs decided who would lead the party and government, sources in the UCP caucus told the Western Standard..The UCP caucus met for six hours on May 19, before deciding Premier Jason Kenney will stay on until a new leader and premier is chosen. Kenney announced the previous night his intention to resign as leader after a leadership review revealed he had the support of just 51.4% of the UCP membership..According to numerous sources, Jean interrupted the proceedings multiple times during the caucus meeting..The events were confirmed to the Western Standard by five MLAs who were in the room when the altercation occurred. They are being granted anonymity since they are not authorized to speak about the matter publicly..Sources said Jean intervened in the caucus meeting repeatedly, until, “MLA Shane Getson said something along the lines of, ‘Look Brian, you gotta stop talking because every time you open your mouth, you lose support.’”.Sources told the Western Standard Jean was visibly upset, moved towards Getson, and said, “Let’s take this outside.”.At this point, MLA Devin Dreeshen put his hand on Jean’s left shoulder to push or hold Jean in his chair, according to the MLAs..The accounts of MLAs who spoke with the Western Standard do not all confirm if Jean stood up and moved toward Getson or not. .One MLA confirmed the details of the story, but could not say definitively if they saw Jean rise from his chair. They confirmed Dreeshen intervened to restrain Jean..“He definitely got out of his chair and was moving in the direction of Mr. Getson,” said another, who described Jean’s movement as a “lunge” towards Getson..One MLA said Jean tried to get up, but was unable as he was being restrained by both Dreeshen and MLA Jason Luan..Another source said Jean came into the meeting upset and “was looking for a fight.”.Getson was “beaking” at Jean with comments like “you don’t do yourself any favours," the source said. .One described the incident as "very awkward," while another said "it was remarkably tense.".Beyond Dreeshen’s restraint, there was no physical contact between Jean or anyone else, sources said..Jean told the Western Standard there was no altercation and refused to comment further, citing caucus confidentiality..“Nothing like that happened,” Jean said. “An altercation? That’s ridiculous.”.In a statement sent to the Western Standard, Shane Getson said, “I respect caucus confidentiality, and as a such have no comment to provide regarding conversations, debates, or interactions between colleagues in caucus meetings.".One MLA said they were unconcerned for their safety because the men involved are “old” and “out of shape.”.But another MLA said a lot of female caucus members “feel Brian’s actions are unhinged.”.Jean was elected to represent Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche after running in a March by-election to take Kenney’s job. Prior to running, Jean publicly criticized Kenney’s COVID leadership and called for the premier’s resignation..Just ahead of the caucus meeting, Jean told reporters Kenney must immediately resign to allow for a new interim leader and premier..“The healing process can’t start until Jason Kenney leaves. He knows that,” Jean said..“We know that, and we need to start the renewal process of the UCP.”.Leading up to the altercation, sources said Jean used his interventions to “slander” people in the room and call his colleagues names. He also made “crazy” and “inflammatory” claims about the RCMP that didn’t reflect how the criminal justice system operates, several sources said..Jean told MLAs they were going to jail soon, that he was smarter than all of them, and that he knows Kenney more than anyone else, one MLA told the Western Standard..“Every time he opened his mouth it was crazy and out-there,” another MLA said..MLAs in the room grew frustrated, multiple sources said..“Brian is just a difficult person to listen to,” one MLA said. “He’s difficult to understand and follow.”.Sources said Getson thought the whole thing was ridiculous and said after the meeting Jean showed his true colours..MLAs also said while UCP caucus meetings can be “lively,” nothing remotely similar has ever occurred..“For someone to be doing that to another person in their caucus … it is totally insane,” one MLA said..Jean has been clear about his intentions to run for the UCP leadership. He’s yet to officially launch his bid..After the Progressive Conservatives and the Wildrose Party merged to create the UCP in 2017, Jean came second to Kenney in the leadership contest. The race has been fraught with allegations of cheating and an RCMP investigation is ongoing.
UCP MLA and leadership hopeful Brian Jean challenged his colleague Shane Getson to a fist fight as tensions rose during last week’s caucus meeting in which MLAs decided who would lead the party and government, sources in the UCP caucus told the Western Standard..The UCP caucus met for six hours on May 19, before deciding Premier Jason Kenney will stay on until a new leader and premier is chosen. Kenney announced the previous night his intention to resign as leader after a leadership review revealed he had the support of just 51.4% of the UCP membership..According to numerous sources, Jean interrupted the proceedings multiple times during the caucus meeting..The events were confirmed to the Western Standard by five MLAs who were in the room when the altercation occurred. They are being granted anonymity since they are not authorized to speak about the matter publicly..Sources said Jean intervened in the caucus meeting repeatedly, until, “MLA Shane Getson said something along the lines of, ‘Look Brian, you gotta stop talking because every time you open your mouth, you lose support.’”.Sources told the Western Standard Jean was visibly upset, moved towards Getson, and said, “Let’s take this outside.”.At this point, MLA Devin Dreeshen put his hand on Jean’s left shoulder to push or hold Jean in his chair, according to the MLAs..The accounts of MLAs who spoke with the Western Standard do not all confirm if Jean stood up and moved toward Getson or not. .One MLA confirmed the details of the story, but could not say definitively if they saw Jean rise from his chair. They confirmed Dreeshen intervened to restrain Jean..“He definitely got out of his chair and was moving in the direction of Mr. Getson,” said another, who described Jean’s movement as a “lunge” towards Getson..One MLA said Jean tried to get up, but was unable as he was being restrained by both Dreeshen and MLA Jason Luan..Another source said Jean came into the meeting upset and “was looking for a fight.”.Getson was “beaking” at Jean with comments like “you don’t do yourself any favours," the source said. .One described the incident as "very awkward," while another said "it was remarkably tense.".Beyond Dreeshen’s restraint, there was no physical contact between Jean or anyone else, sources said..Jean told the Western Standard there was no altercation and refused to comment further, citing caucus confidentiality..“Nothing like that happened,” Jean said. “An altercation? That’s ridiculous.”.In a statement sent to the Western Standard, Shane Getson said, “I respect caucus confidentiality, and as a such have no comment to provide regarding conversations, debates, or interactions between colleagues in caucus meetings.".One MLA said they were unconcerned for their safety because the men involved are “old” and “out of shape.”.But another MLA said a lot of female caucus members “feel Brian’s actions are unhinged.”.Jean was elected to represent Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche after running in a March by-election to take Kenney’s job. Prior to running, Jean publicly criticized Kenney’s COVID leadership and called for the premier’s resignation..Just ahead of the caucus meeting, Jean told reporters Kenney must immediately resign to allow for a new interim leader and premier..“The healing process can’t start until Jason Kenney leaves. He knows that,” Jean said..“We know that, and we need to start the renewal process of the UCP.”.Leading up to the altercation, sources said Jean used his interventions to “slander” people in the room and call his colleagues names. He also made “crazy” and “inflammatory” claims about the RCMP that didn’t reflect how the criminal justice system operates, several sources said..Jean told MLAs they were going to jail soon, that he was smarter than all of them, and that he knows Kenney more than anyone else, one MLA told the Western Standard..“Every time he opened his mouth it was crazy and out-there,” another MLA said..MLAs in the room grew frustrated, multiple sources said..“Brian is just a difficult person to listen to,” one MLA said. “He’s difficult to understand and follow.”.Sources said Getson thought the whole thing was ridiculous and said after the meeting Jean showed his true colours..MLAs also said while UCP caucus meetings can be “lively,” nothing remotely similar has ever occurred..“For someone to be doing that to another person in their caucus … it is totally insane,” one MLA said..Jean has been clear about his intentions to run for the UCP leadership. He’s yet to officially launch his bid..After the Progressive Conservatives and the Wildrose Party merged to create the UCP in 2017, Jean came second to Kenney in the leadership contest. The race has been fraught with allegations of cheating and an RCMP investigation is ongoing.
