Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney resigned as a member of the legislature on Tuesday, the same day his successor introduced her flagship sovereignty bill in the legislature, of which he had been a staunch critic.
In a signed letter posted on Kenney’s verified Twitter account, he says the resignation is effective immediately and that it has been a privilege to have represented the constituency of Calgary Lougheed since 2017.
“In the future, I hope to continue contributing to our democratic life by sharing some of what I have learned on a range of issues, including immigration, national security, Indigenous economic development, the state of the federation, economic growth, energy and much more,” Kenney wrote.
“But for now, I close with this reflection. Whatever our flaws or imperfections Canada — and I believe Alberta — are in many ways the envy of the world. This is not an accident of history.”
Kenney, also a former federal cabinet minister who spent 25 years in elected life, praised how matters are dealt with under Canada’s constitutional monarchy.
“But I am concerned that our democratic life is veering away from ordinary prudential debate towards a polarization that undermines our bedrock institutions and principles,” he wrote, decrying the far-left’s efforts to “delegitimize our history” and the far-right’s “vengeful anger and toxic cynicism.”
Kenney announced in May that he was quitting as leader of the governing United Conservative Party following a leadership review, and he was replaced by Premier Danielle Smith.
Kenney was a harsh critic of Smith’s sovereignty act proposal during the leadership race.
