Barnes claims premier is biggest threat to referendum on equalization

By Medicine Hat News on October 4, 2021.

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes publicly accused Premier Jason Kenney last week of diminishing Conservative Party support across the province. Barnes believes Kenney’s pandemic management, which has drawn wide criticism from Albertans and beyond, threatens the results of the upcoming municipal election and equalization referendum.

“The top threat to the success of this referendum has become the Premier himself,” Barnes said in a Friday press release. “There is no question that Jason Kenney’s failures came into play during the last week of the federal election campaign. It currently looks like it will come into play in the municipal elections and equalization referendum as well.”

Even though the majority of Alberta’s 34 ridings went blue in this year’s federal election, the Conservative Party dropped two seats; with the Liberals taking one in Calgary and one in Edmonton, as well as the one previously and still held by the NDP.

Barnes fears this signals a larger trend in which voters may begin to lose faith in conservative parties.

“I’ve seen at least one left-wing academic call to Albertans to reject the premise of this fall’s equalization referendum question and make it a referendum on the Kenney government,” Barnes confessed.

While he says he understands the frustration of voters, Barnes hopes they can see past frustrations with the United Conservative Party’s leadership when casting ballots later thus month.

“I would encourage Albertans to focus on the bigger picture,” Barnes said. “The best thing for all of us, regardless of political affiliation, is winning a fair deal from Ottawa. A fair deal means a stronger economy and a brighter tomorrow for all Albertans.”

Barnes, who was ejected from the United Conservative Party caucus last May, warned UCP members that if not addressed soon, Kenney’s leadership could have irrevocable political ramifications.

“If we wake up on Oct. 19 with a loss in the equalization referendum or left-leaning mayors and councils elected across Alberta, the blame won’t rest with Kenney alone,” Barnes said.

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