CALCULATE –
Prime Minister Jason Kenney, leader of the United Conservatives, is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the party’s annual general meeting on Saturday morning.
His speech, ahead of a live gathering at Gray Eagle Resort & Casino in southwest Calgary, is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m.
The keynote speech came as several party sources suggested that the UCP was on the verge of collapse.
Although the assessment of Kenney’s leadership will not take place at this weekend’s AGM, political experts say that won’t stop questions from being asked.
Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said: “Whatever is happening on the stage, whatever is on the agenda will take second place for questions. around the leadership of Jason Kenney.
Reports show that nearly two dozen voter unions have said the leadership review needs to take place now rather than in the spring.
“I think it’s really a new leader, or a resounding leadership confirmation – either, and I think we need to put it to bed and move on,” Erhard Poggemiller told Olds-Didsbury. forward,” Erhard Poggemiller told Olds-Didsbury.
“I really hope that we stay together, that we don’t split because I think the worst thing we can do is split like a party.”
DOZENS OF PROTESTERS IN VENUE
As Friday night’s events unfolded with Kenney meeting team members, a different sort of gathering took place outside the Gray Eagle Casino.
Dozens of people, believed to be anti-vaccination protesters, forced the site to be locked down, preventing people from entering the building.
The group waved signs speaking out against vaccine mandates mandated by the provincial government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and called for Kenney’s resignation.
Members of the Tsuut’ina Police Department were on hand to keep the peace, and Gray Eagle officials told CTV News in a statement that they were anticipating that kind of activity.
“Management at Gray Eagle Resort and Casino is aware that protesters have attended the UCP General Assembly area,” spokesman Morten Paulsen said by email.
“This is a foreseeable situation and security procedures are in place. Gray Eagle Resort and Casino is working closely with the organizers, and with Tsuut’ina Police.”
CTV Calgary will be streaming Kenney’s address as it happens.
