MHC political scientist says premiers actions "need to be viewed under the current leadership review".

By Brian Konrad

How will Drew Barnes respond to premier's visit?

Premier’s visit to Medicine Hat needs to be viewed against leadership vote, says Groom

Mar 30, 2022 | 12:39 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — Premier Jason Kenney, along with the provincial health minister and minister of agriculture, will be speaking to the Medicine Hat and District Chamber of Commerce tomorrow.

It’s billed as a chance to highlight the UCP budget and Alberta’s Recovery Plan, but Medicine Hat College political science instructor Jim Groom says Kenney’s actions need to be viewed under the current leadership review.

“I think everything we see has to be taken with that light,” says Groom.

“He’s been going all over the province announcing ‘balanced budget,’ they did a great job and all that good stuff and promoting themself as much as possible, giving out all kinds of cash of course and I think it’s all leadership based.”

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Groom says it will be also be interesting to see how Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes handles the visit by the man who booted him from caucus, and the person Barnes was protesting against at the Alberta Legislature last week.

Groom feels the appearance of Health Minister Jason Copping here also reaffirms that the UCP government has opted for politics, instead of science, in how it handles future pandemic issues.

“When we look at the folks in Medicine Hat, we see a group that is sort of anti-masks and didn’t want all the lockdowns. I think by bringing the minister of health he can have that tantamounted support for not responding to future pandemic issues,” says Groom.

Groom says the premier may also be looking for potential candidates to run in Cypress-Medicine Hat for the UCP in 2023 and notes changes have already been made to the executive for the local constituency association.

Nate Horner, minister of agriculture, forestry and rural economic development, and Brooks-Medicine Hat MLA Michaela Frey will also take part in the luncheon.