Alberta Premier Jason Kenney (Government of Alberta)

By Canadian Press

NDP Calling For Expanded Investigation

Kenney interviewed by RCMP in criminal probe tied to 2017 leadership race

Mar 28, 2022 | 4:04 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he has been interviewed by RCMP as part of an investigation into potential criminal identity fraud in the 2017 United Conservative Party leadership contest.

Kenney, answering questions from reporters, says he did one interview with Mounties at their request and remains confident his campaign team followed all the rules.

The police investigation is one of two probes into the 2017 vote, which saw Kenney defeat his main rival Brian Jean to win the top job in the party and eventually become premier.

Election officials have investigated improper donations to the campaign of another candidate, Jeff Callaway, and levied thousands of dollars in fines.

Well after the race was over, it became known that Callaway’s team worked behind the scenes with Kenney supporters as Callaway publicly disparaged Jean before quitting the race to support Kenney.

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Kenney says he had no knowledge or participation in illegal donations.

Meantime, Alberta’s NDP is urging the RCMP to expand their investigation into Jason Kenney’s 2017 UCP leadership campaign to include the current leadership review process, in light of new details shared by prominent UCP members and the UCP’s recent move from in-person to mail-in voting.

“I am gravely concerned that the same actors you are currently investigating for possible criminal acts in 2017 are again playing central roles in a similar process, one which will determine whether or not the Premier of Alberta retains his office,” wrote Irfan Sabir, NDP Critic for Justice, in a letter to RCMP Commissioner Curtis Zablocki.

“The 2017 allegations made against the now-Premier’s leadership campaign have caused great damage to public confidence in our democratic institutions. A repeat of this episode will cause even greater damage to Alberta’s democracy.”

(The Canadian Press, with files from rdnewsNOW)