From: brewnoser2@gmail.com   
      
   The Canadian Press - Feb 3 2021   
      
   UCP co-founder urges Alberta premier to ‘fire yourself’ from   
   intergovernmental post   
      
   EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is getting some unsolicited advice   
   from the co-founder of the United Conservative Party: fire yourself as the   
   intergovernmental affairs minister.   
      
   Brian Jean says Kenney’s “fight everyone” approach is not getting the   
   job done for Albertans on critical issues, including energy and federal   
   relations.   
      
   “Fire yourself as intergovernmental affairs minister and appoint a new   
   one,” Jean wrote in a guest column published Wednesday by Postmedia.   
      
   “Ideally, we would use a ‘good cop, bad cop’ approach, and this (new)   
   minister could be the good cop to assist you in negotiations.   
      
   “We are currently without a good cop, and we are missing out on co-operation   
   from other governments.”   
      
   While Kenney is at it, said Jean, he could impart a softer diplomatic tone   
   throughout his government.   
      
   “Those in your government too often pick fights with Albertans and others   
   rather than asking them to help solve problems," he wrote.   
      
   “Albertans want the premier’s and ministers’ offices to be staffed by   
   grown-ups who can be trusted to maturely address the issues facing   
   Albertans.”   
      
   Jean helped create the UCP by joining his Wildrose party with Kenney's   
   Progressive Conservatives. Jean ran against Kenney for the UCP leadership and   
   lost.   
      
   Asked about Jean’s comments, Kenney said he hadn’t read the article, but   
   noted: “It’s easy to sit on the sidelines and be an armchair quarterback   
   as we make our way through these multiple crises at the same time.”   
      
   In answer to a similar question on CHED radio Kenney said: “We were elected   
   to fight for this province’s best interests, not to sit back passively and   
   let others determine our future for us.”   
      
   Kenney often has a combative rhetorical style in pursuing Alberta’s vital   
   interests, most recently on the Keystone XL oil pipeline expansion.   
      
   U.S. President Joe Biden cancelled the trans-border line last month on his   
   first day in office in keeping with a campaign promise. The decision cost   
   Alberta $1.5-billion in direct investment, perhaps more given Kenney's   
   government also pledged another $6    
   billion in loan guarantees.   
      
   The premier -- who once publicly dismissed Justin Trudeau as “an empty   
   trust-fund millionaire who has the political depth of a finger bowl” --   
   accused the prime minister of not fighting hard enough to change Biden’s   
   mind and urged Ottawa to issue    
   retaliatory trade sanctions.   
      
   He accused Biden of "insulting” Canada on his first day in office.   
      
   Kenney is also battling Michigan’s environmentally focused opposition to   
   Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline under the Great Lakes. He has called Michigan   
   Gov. Gretchen Whitmer “brain dead.” Whitmer was national co-chair of   
   Biden’s presidential campaign.   
      
   Kenney's government has also focused on what he has called shadowy global foes   
   and environmentalists who he says are seeking to undermine Alberta's oil   
   industry. He set up a $30-million-a-year "war room" and struck a public   
   inquiry into foreign funding    
   of oil opponents. Critics say both endeavours have been undermined by   
   self-generated mistakes and controversies.   
      
   The government has been publicly tangling with doctors, teachers, academics   
   and organized labour as it seeks to reform everything from pensions to to   
   health care to public-sector wages.   
      
   Also Wednesday, Kenney responded to a call from UCP caucus member Drew Barnes   
   for Alberta to hold a referendum on independence as a message to Ottawa to   
   take seriously the province's concerns about energy development and   
   revenue-sharing.   
      
   “Ottawa has to be 100 per cent aware of the consequences of not giving   
   Albertans resource movement and a fair deal,” Barnes said in an interview.   
      
   “Albertans everywhere, every day, are telling me the desire to stand up to   
   Ottawa is stronger than ever.”   
      
   Kenney said UCP founding documents make it clear the party is loyal to a   
   united Canada.   
      
   “MLAs have a right to speak their mind, but this government will continue to   
   fight for a strong Alberta within the Canadian Confederation,” he said.   
      
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