Calgary MP Jason Kenney’s message on his political future; “stay tuned”

It was a packed room Wednesday night in Cochrane as members of the “Alberta Can’t Wait” movement packed the Cochrane Legion.

The Banff-Cochrane chapter packed the meeting room to hear from who might be their next leader, Calgary Midnapore MP Jason Kenney.

Tories, Wildrosers and small-C Conservatives leaned on his every word, much like the first Conservative movement might have began in Alberta 50 years ago.

A long-time politician and former federal minister, Kenney told reporters ahead of his speech he hasn’t made any decisions yet on his own personal future.

“Stay tuned,” he told 660 NEWS when he said he was still considering his options.

Kenney is reportedly talking to high-level movers and shakers within the party to see if a merger is possible.

His message to the party-faithful in Cochrane, just looked at the Conservative Party of Canada as an example.

“We have a roomful of as former Premier Ralph Klein would say ‘several normal Albertans’, ladies and gentlemen this is Rachel Notley’s worst nightmare,” he said to a roaring applause. “This is bigger than us, it’s about Canada because this precious place we call Alberta has in so many ways led Canada.”

“Alberta has been the capital of Canadian conservatism, the capital of free-enterprising spirit,” said Kenney. “That’s why we have to take it back.”

He told the room Conservatives deserved to lose the last election, the NDP won to send a message, eliminating “cronyism”.

“We don’t criticize Albertans for making that decision but let’s be clear, there were also tens of thousands of Albertans who thought they were casting a risk free vote,” he said referencing polls that called for a minority PC government.

Kenney spent much of his time attacking the NDP, telling the room it takes a special kind of incompetence to turn Alberta into a “have-not” province in a short period of time.
“In my hometown of Calgary we see businesses closing their doors everyday,” he said.

“Our message here tonight is to the NDP, stop attacking the people who actually create jobs, wealth and hope in our society, give them a break instead.”

He referred to the carbon tax and defacto sales tax and says this was never mentioned when the NDP were running for office.

“Not only has the NDP failed so spectacularly in punishing Albertans through their carbon tax and failing to get market access but she couldn’t even influence her own party,” he said, blasting the Premier for the federal NDP’s support of the “leap manifesto.”

“That came from the NDP which promised us social license as a result of the carbon tax, they are completely incompetent and jeopardizing our province’s life-blood of our economy, we will not let them do so.”

Kenney says the call for a royalty review was held at the worst time possible, planting a seed in the minds of investors around the world.

“Now we see the real hidden agenda when the NDP announced radical changes to Alberta education,” he said.

“It means social engineering we will not allow the NDP to politicize our education system.”

Kenney says he’s voted for different provincial political parties in year’s past and the Progressive Conservative history has to be honoured.

“And we honour the principled stand of free market discipline of the Wildrose, making sure there’s voice for principled economic platforms.”

“Alberta can’t wait, this is not about the past, this is about the future.”

He referenced surveys and results that say Albertans want the two parties to unite moving forward.

“That’s by the way, that’s two-thirds of voters in the absences of any leader advocating it,” he said, “I have a simple three word to answer any objection of unity, it’s the Conservative Party of Canada.”

Kenney says he had a front row seat when the Canadian Alliance and Progressive Conservative Party of Canada decided to merge.

“I began by criss-crossing the country, speaking in rooms like this and talking about what united us rather than what divided us. There was a growing will to make this happen. The leaders weren’t there.”

“They did it in 2003 and created a party that gave this country a good Conservative government for ten years,” said Kenney.

He had a message to his friends on the Progressive Conservative Party who haven’t been willing to endorse the idea, it was something already achieved by Ralph Klein.
Kenney says he was the former Premier was the keynote speaker at almost every convention and helped provide that national unity under the right wing.

“I will just close by saying this is too important to get this wrong. We will be accountable to future generations if we cannot get this right. After what the NDP has done, imagine what they could do after 8 years in office. In 8 years they could snuff out that entrepreneurial spirit that has made this province an example.”

He says they only have to look at what the CCF did in Saskatchewan until Conservatives were able to come together and revive the province’s future.

“I say as a former Saskatchewan economic refugee, if they can get this right, damn right we can too.”

He would be preceded by the area Member of Parliament, his colleague and friend Black Richards who told many of his constituents on the provincial level they aren’t accomplishing much because of Conservative in-fighting.

“Everyone in this room would agree with me, Conservatives are not afraid of hard work. If we do that, we can accomplish a new government in Alberta, the future of our province depends on it.