Danielle Smith spoke to reporters via Zoom on Thursday, May 19, 2022. (Screengrab)

By Chris Brown and Gates Guarin

Danielle Smith says she will run for UCP leadership

May 19, 2022 | 11:58 AM

Danielle Smith wants to lead the United Conservative Party into the next election.

One day after Jason Kenney announced he will be stepping down as leader of the UCP and premier, Smith says she will run in the party’s leadership race. She announced weeks ago that she would seek the UCP nomination in her home riding of Livingstone-Macleod.

“I’m going to run to win,” Smith says of the leadership, adding she’d love to see former UCP MLA and now Cypress-Medicine Hat Independent Drew Barnes also in the race.

“I love the clash of visions.”

Brian Jean, who lost to Kenney in the inaugural UCP leadership race and has been an outspoken Kenney critic, has also signalled his intention to seek the leadership. Jean thanked the premier for his decent and honourable concession.

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Smith said she wants a robust leadership race that is decided by September.

READ MORE: Barnes says he’s prepared to rejoin UCP caucus

Taking questions from reporters over Zoom, Smith says her leadership campaign would be centred on Alberta first.

Smith mentioned a “notwithstanding clause” to not enforce federal legislation they don’t agree with and the province collecting personal income taxes as areas for Alberta to assert itself and move forward on a united independence movement.

“I think Albertans just want some respect,” the former Wildrose Party leader says, adding the federal government should be as differential to Alberta as it is to Quebec. She believes that would develop a new relationship with Ottawa which will be constructive to the country as a whole.

She says many grassroots members of the party did not feel Kenney had the right balance between them and the party executive, and created division along identity lines.

Smith adds there is a lot of repair work to do with UCP, and that Kenney has done the right thing by recognizing the party would not unite behind him.

On COVID, Kenney’s handling of which was criticized by all corners, Smith says the province must go in a different direction when influenza season hits. She calls for focused protection for seniors and letting kids be kids.

Smith also decried cancel culture, saying there is often only acceptable one view to have. She wants to see a balanced discussion and for people to be prepared to listen to all voices.