Screengrab from YouTube/Drew Barnes

By Chris Brown

Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA won’t run for UCP leadership

Jun 17, 2022 | 8:50 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Count Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes out of the United Conservative Party leadership race.

In a video posted to YouTube late Friday, Barnes says he will not be joining the race to replace Jason Kenney as UCP leader and premier.

Barnes says his top priority has always been to put the thoughts, ideas and concerns of his local families and communities first. He says he will continue putting his constituents first inside and outside the legislature.

Barnes says Kenney’s resignation offers the UCP and Alberta’s conservative movement an opportunity for a fresh start. But adds the leadership race rules released this week give very little indication the party is interested in embracing that opportunity.

He also derided the party for its $175,000 fee to enter the race, calling it out of step with every other UCP, Wildrose and Progressive Conservative leadership race over the past 30 years.

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Barnes says he is committed and looking forward to working with any leadership candidate and party willing to truly put Albertans first. He does not say in the video who he would support in the leadership race.

Barnes has sat in the legislature as an Independent since he was kicked out of the UCP caucus in May 2021 after frequent public criticism of Kenney. Central Peace-Notley MLA Todd Loewen, another vocal Kenney critic, was booted from caucus at the same time. Loewen is running to be the next UCP leader.

UCP backbenchers Leela Aheer and Brian Jean, Mayor of Amisk, Alta. Bill Rock, former transport minister Rajan Sawhney, former children’s services minister Rebecca Schulz, former Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, and former finance minister Travis Toews are also running to replace Kenney.