The risk to Kenney lies in history — recent history — that shows how an election campaign can be derailed by far-right conservative values
EDMONTON — From the moment he arrived in Alberta to unite two conservative parties and lead them in a bid to defeat NDP Premier Rachel Notley, Jason Kenney has had to contend with attacks that he’s an extreme right-winger. What may be more surprising to those outside the province, however, is the amount of time he’s had to spend time running defence against those who feel he’s not conservative enough.
It’s a change from the usual NDP line of attack, which contends that there are secret far-right sympathies within the UCP leadership. And yet, while it may not deter Alberta’s bedrock conservatives in numbers sufficient to hamper the UCP’s electoral chances, it’s been a surprisingly persistent theme throughout Kenney’s foray into provincial politics.
While there’s certainly an appetite for more right-wing conservatism in parts of Alberta, the stereotype of Wild Rose Country as the home of slack-jawed yokels simply isn’t accurate. Reams of polling show that, generally speaking, Albertans are within the normal range of Canadian views on social issues. “When you measure aspects of conservatism, we’re not particularly conservative,” said Bratt.
It’s no Klein platform, detonating hospitals or instituting deep cuts to get to balance. “Why? Because, primarily because it’s not necessary,” Kenney told the Post Tuesday. “We can get to balance in four years through a careful, measured path. I’ll be honest with you, my main focus — I’m a bit of a supply-sider — my main focus is getting the economy rolling so the government revenues will increase.
“I saw this even when I was there with Klein and then Stelmach, the bigger the coalition the harder it is to make everybody happy,” Morton said. “There is a point where it becomes more problematic, you lose more votes by pandering to them than you gain,” Ellis said.
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