The former UCP MLA and a federal Conservative member of Parliament secured a majority win with 63.6 percent of voters choosing him over seven other candidates on their ballots, with all 61 polls reporting.
“I am excited to be your new MLA for Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche,'' Jean said to supporters.
“This was not a squeaker. I have to tell you I have a clear mandate from the people—over 60 percent.”
In July 2017, Jean, who was then leader of the Wildrose Party, agreed to join forces with Kenney’s Progressive Conservative party to form what is now the UCP, a move initiated by Kenney to unite the two parties in a bid to oust the NDP.
Jean maintains that the UCP has lost its values and commitment to grassroots democracy under Kenney, and that only a change in leadership can reverse poor polling numbers and deliver victory against the NDP in the spring 2023 provincial election.
He said his focus now is on renewing the party by defeating Kenney in the party’s scheduled leadership review in Red Deer on April 9.
“I will be actively involved in getting UCP members to show up and vote at the April 9th leadership review vote,” Jean said on his Facebook page after his win.
“The members will decide Jason Kenney’s fate, but I am confident that, like me, a majority of the UCP members going to Red Deer want to renew the UCP and make it a party that better listens to and better serves Albertans.”
In winning Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche, Jean now takes over the seat of former UCP MLA Laila Goodridge who resigned to run successfully for the federal Conservatives in August.
Kenney congratulated Jean on his victory.
“Congratulations to Brian Jean and the UCP team on winning the Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche byelection,” he said on Twitter on March 16.
“Thank-you to all of the candidates & their volunteers for their commitment to democracy, and to local voters for participating in the electoral process.”
