MLA Drew Barnes out of UCP Caucus

“There is simply no room in our caucus for those who continually seek to divide our party and undermine government leadership, especially at this critical juncture for our province,” said Caucus Whip Mike Ellis, in a statement issued Thursday evening.

“We look forward to moving ahead as a stronger, more united team.”

In his letter Wednesday, Loewen pointed to a number of “persistent problems” within the party, suggesting Kenney’s leadership is the root of those problems.

Loewen accused Kenney and his government of weak dealings with Ottawa, ignoring caucus members, delivering contradictory messages, and botching critical issues such as negotiations with doctors and a controversy over coal-mining on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

“Albertans have lost trust in the leadership of our government and are no longer willing to extend us any benefit of the doubt on most issues.”

Loewen and Barnes were two of 18 UCP backbench members to break with Kenney’s government in April over restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. The group said the rules were needlessly restrictive and infringed on personal freedoms.

Kenney had tolerated the open dissension for weeks, saying he believed in free speech and that backbenchers are not in cabinet and don’t speak for his government.

With that said, Loewen stated in his letter that backbench members are sidelined and ignored.

“I no longer believe that caucus can function properly: meetings have been cancelled without members’ consent, significant decisions of government have been made without notice to members, and our input as elected members is rarely considered.”

Loewen said the caucus has tried to be heard.

CHAT News has reached out to Barnes for comment but have yet to hear back.

Speaking to CHAT back in April Barnes stated I’d like to see us have more things on a regional basis. We’re in the 14th month of this. Lockdowns and restrictions weren’t meant for 14 months,” he said. “So many Medicine Hatters and Cypress-Medicine Hatters, so many private enterprise people have lost so much. They’ve had to take on tons of debt or they’ve you know lost their jobs or they’ve lost their businesses and we need some opportunity to return to some normal life.”

“After 14 months, there’s been a lot of other crises from mental health to physical health to spiritual health to the economic health and we have to address them all,” he said.

Barnes has pushed for a regionalized approach to loosening restrictions for months.

He says many of his colleagues want the same regional approach.

“There’s a lot of us that believe that because Alberta’s bigger than most European countries that a regional approach makes sense. I hope in the future that’s where my colleagues will put their words.”

The UCP have now lost three seats in government since winning a strong majority in the 2019 provincial election, as Loewen and Barnes join Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn as Independents.

There are now 60 UCP MLAs in the 87-seat Legislature. The balance of the legislature (24 seats) is made up of New Democrat Party members.

SP/LV

by Regan Tate/Shaun Penner/CP

MLA Drew Barnes out of UCP Caucus

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