Two Independent Alberta MLAs marked the end of the legislative session with a blistering attack on Premier Jason Kenney and the UCP..The joint statement was issued by Drew Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat and Todd Loewen, MLA for Central Peace-Notley, both of whom were expelled from the UCP caucus last month..“Obviously the biggest scandals this session involved the Premier’s numerous and clear violations of his own pandemic health restrictions,” said Barnes..“Despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary, for five days the Premier insisted that he followed the rules, before finally admitting his guilt with regard to the Sky Palace Patio-gate scandal. And everything went downhill from there.”.Loewen said: “Recent polls show that Kenney remains the least popular premier in Canada for two months running. You don’t need a degree in political science to see why..“You would think this scandal would be enough to humble him, but no. He went on to display how out of touch he is in the session’s remainder. On at least two occasions, he used every tool at his disposal to overrule the democratically expressed will of his own party members.”.The pair said on recall legislation, UCP MLAs voted to support a system with lower signature requirements, a longer signature collection period, and fewer protections for MLAs, “Kenney didn’t like that. Instead of listening to UCP members he encouraged MLAs to vote down the changes,” Barnes and Loewen put forward that would have aligned the bill with UCP members’ passed policy..They said Kenney did them same thing on a bill for citizen-lead referenda..“The Premier intervened to impose his will and overrule the democratically expressed will of his own party’s members,” said Loewen..Added Barnes: “The Premier portrays himself as a champion of democratic reform, but it is clear that ‘Professor Kenney’ has no time for any ideas but his own. His Grassroots Guarantee has become a Hypocrisy Guarantee.”.The two also blasted the UCP for its handling of the issue of rural physicians..Loewen, in question period on May 21, noted the hospital in Fairview did not have a physician available to staff the emergency room. On June 9 the Fairview emergency room was again closed, this time for more than 12 hours..“This is not the first-time rural emergency rooms have been shut down due to the rural physician shortage. It has become a chronic issue. It is not something people in Calgary or Edmonton would find acceptable. The government clearly has a double standard when it comes to patient care for rural communities. This is an issue of government incompetence,” said Loewen..The pair said they plan to use the summer break to campaign for the October 18 referendum of the federal Equalization program..‘We were both elected on a platform that included the referendum on Equalization, and we will use every tool at our disposal to fight for a fair deal for Albertans. The Equalization referendum is a small first step in that process, and it will help bring this issue to the attention of all Albertans,” said Loewen..Barnes concluded: “Our main concern at this time is the Premier’s lack of popularity may threaten the outcome of this referendum. Polling indicates the public has turned firmly against Premier Kenney’s leadership. Referendums are an opportunity for the general public to speak, and this equalization referendum will be Albertans’ first opportunity to send this premier a message since this government was first elected two years ago,” said Barnes..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
Two Independent Alberta MLAs marked the end of the legislative session with a blistering attack on Premier Jason Kenney and the UCP..The joint statement was issued by Drew Barnes, MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat and Todd Loewen, MLA for Central Peace-Notley, both of whom were expelled from the UCP caucus last month..“Obviously the biggest scandals this session involved the Premier’s numerous and clear violations of his own pandemic health restrictions,” said Barnes..“Despite clear photographic evidence to the contrary, for five days the Premier insisted that he followed the rules, before finally admitting his guilt with regard to the Sky Palace Patio-gate scandal. And everything went downhill from there.”.Loewen said: “Recent polls show that Kenney remains the least popular premier in Canada for two months running. You don’t need a degree in political science to see why..“You would think this scandal would be enough to humble him, but no. He went on to display how out of touch he is in the session’s remainder. On at least two occasions, he used every tool at his disposal to overrule the democratically expressed will of his own party members.”.The pair said on recall legislation, UCP MLAs voted to support a system with lower signature requirements, a longer signature collection period, and fewer protections for MLAs, “Kenney didn’t like that. Instead of listening to UCP members he encouraged MLAs to vote down the changes,” Barnes and Loewen put forward that would have aligned the bill with UCP members’ passed policy..They said Kenney did them same thing on a bill for citizen-lead referenda..“The Premier intervened to impose his will and overrule the democratically expressed will of his own party’s members,” said Loewen..Added Barnes: “The Premier portrays himself as a champion of democratic reform, but it is clear that ‘Professor Kenney’ has no time for any ideas but his own. His Grassroots Guarantee has become a Hypocrisy Guarantee.”.The two also blasted the UCP for its handling of the issue of rural physicians..Loewen, in question period on May 21, noted the hospital in Fairview did not have a physician available to staff the emergency room. On June 9 the Fairview emergency room was again closed, this time for more than 12 hours..“This is not the first-time rural emergency rooms have been shut down due to the rural physician shortage. It has become a chronic issue. It is not something people in Calgary or Edmonton would find acceptable. The government clearly has a double standard when it comes to patient care for rural communities. This is an issue of government incompetence,” said Loewen..The pair said they plan to use the summer break to campaign for the October 18 referendum of the federal Equalization program..‘We were both elected on a platform that included the referendum on Equalization, and we will use every tool at our disposal to fight for a fair deal for Albertans. The Equalization referendum is a small first step in that process, and it will help bring this issue to the attention of all Albertans,” said Loewen..Barnes concluded: “Our main concern at this time is the Premier’s lack of popularity may threaten the outcome of this referendum. Polling indicates the public has turned firmly against Premier Kenney’s leadership. Referendums are an opportunity for the general public to speak, and this equalization referendum will be Albertans’ first opportunity to send this premier a message since this government was first elected two years ago,” said Barnes..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
