By Laine Mitchell (Twitter: @Laine_Mitchell)

UCP Leader Jason Kenney visits Drayton Valley

Mar 25, 2018 | 6:24 PM

United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney greeted supporters Saturday night in Drayton Valley, touching on a variety of topics as the 2019 election grows closer. 

Kenney delivered a speech nearly 30 minutes in length and answered questions from the 100+ sized crowd during the “State of the Union” event at the Clean Energy Technology Centre. 

During his speech, he spoke about wanting to give Alberta what he called a “fresh start,” and defeating the NDP in the next provincial election.

Having visited Drayton Valley twice since last summer, Kenney says the lack of Premier Rachel Notley visiting rural communities across the province is surprising and a missed opportunity.

“I think it’s surprising that the premier hasn’t found the time to come to Drayton Valley particularly when this community was so hard hit during the downturn, I don’t know of a community more affected by the downturn.” said Kenney. “But I’m not surprised because most communities of this size around rural Alberta she has not visited. So yeah, it’s a missed opportunity, the premier’s role is to represent all of Alberta not just those who vote for her.”

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Kenney also took issue with the response by the federal government on the delay’s the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion is facing by the B.C. government, saying the lack of action is upsetting.

“I don’t think he is really committed to this, he doesn’t want to take any political risks. A small majority of British Columbians support the pipeline but they tend to live in the interior and I think the prime minister is looking at Liberal seats in the lower mainland and not taking any risks,” said Kenney. “It upsets me that there was a brief risk of US steal tariff that caused the PM to visit several steel plants in central Canada, but we’ve been side swiped in our  regional core industry here in oil and gas.”

A promise from Kenney that made the crowd cheer was if elected as premier he would force a summer sitting of the Alberta legislature to repeal every element of the NDP’s economic agenda, starting with the carbon tax, Bill 6 and newly enforced labour laws. 

MLA for Drayton Valley-Devon Mark Smith, MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock Glenn van Dijken and MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka Ron Orr were all in attendance. Multiple members of Drayton Valley town council as well as Brazeau County council showed up to hear Kenney speak as well. 

Kenney was elected United Conservative Party leader on October 28, 2017.