Jason Kenney announces he is stepping down as UCP leader following the results of a leadership vote revealed on May 18, 2022. (UCP)

By Sheldon Spackman and The Canadian Press

BREAKING NEWS

Kenney steps down as UCP leader with 51.4 per cent support

May 18, 2022 | 7:18 PM

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has announced he is stepping down as UCP leader.

The announcement was made Wednesday evening following the results of a party leadership review released in Calgary on May 18, 2022.

According to party officials, 34,298 membership votes were cast, with 17,638 (51.4%) being in favour of Kenney staying on as leader, and 16,660 votes (48.6%) not in favour of Kenney staying on as leader.

Kenney told his supporters that is simply not enough to continue leading the party.

“While 51 per cent of the vote passes the constitutional threshold of the majority, it clearly is not adequate support to continue on as leader,” he lamented. “And that is why tonight, I’ve informed the president of the party of my intention to step down as leader of the United Conservative Party. I’m sorry. But friends, I truly believe that we need to move forward united. We need to put the past behind us and a large number of our members have asked for an opportunity to clear the air through a leadership election.”

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Kenney says he has now recommended that the provincial board schedule a leadership election in a timely fashion.

“I want to thank all members who participated in this process. and the hundreds of volunteers who have pitched in,” he continued. “I also want to thank so many of you here and right across the province for your support and the tireless efforts of those who have had confidence in my continued leadership. Friends, it’s clear that the past two years were deeply divisive for our province, our party, and our caucus. But it is my fervent hope that in the months to come, we all move on passed the division of COVID.”

If Kenney had received less than 50 per cent plus one, he would have had to quit as per party rules and a leadership contest would have been called.

Normally, leaders consider 75 to 80 per cent or higher the minimum credible mandate to continue leading their party.

Kenney had earlier said he would accept a slim majority, because the voting pool was skewed by last-minute members interested only in scuttling his big-tent conservative party.

(With files from The Canadian Press)