Alberta’s Progressive Conservative Party has launched an investigation after leadership candidate Jason Kenney broke party rules by appearing at a delegate selection meeting Wednesday night in Edmonton.
Kenney and his campaign tactics were not welcome at the meeting, said party president Katherine O’Neill.
“The candidate, which I witnessed, came onto the premises where there was a delegate election meeting, and I had to ask him to leave the building,” O’Neill said in an interview with CBC News.
O’Neill said party regulations are very clear. Candidates are not welcome at any of the delegate meetings, and Wednesday night’s event in Edmonton-Ellerslie was no exception.
She said it was “very disappointing” that Kenney broke the rules.
There was a DSM infraction at tonight’s mtg. in #yeg-Ellerslie; a compliant has been filed with the #PCAA CRO for further action. #pcldr
#PCAA is committed to a fair, open & transparent leadership race for all candidates, delegates & party members. #pcldr
“It’s similar to what would happen in a regular election,” O’Neill said. “It’s considered a polling station.
“Every candidate that signed up to run in our race knew the rules, because they signed a document saying, ‘I understand what the rules are, and I’m going to abide by them.’ “
Kenney, who is campaigning to win the PC leadership to further his plan to unite the political right in Alberta, not only appeared at the meeting but also booked a hospitality suite, two rooms down the hall from where the delegates were to vote.
O’Neill said she received numerous complaints about Kenney’s presence at the meeting. Those complaints will be forwarded to the party’s chief returning officer to pursue an investigation.
She said many party members were upset to see Kenney at the Mill Woods golf course clubhouse as they prepared to mark their ballots.
“Other candidates had their scrutineers there, and they were also witnessing what was happening, and they wanted to make sure things were being run by the books,” said O’Neill.
“They all wanted to make their point before the voting started. It got a little bit heated but we took care of it.”
Fantastic start! @UniteAlberta slate just won 15 of the 15 delegate spots at the first @PC_Alberta leadership vote, in #Edmonton Ellerslie!
— @jkenney
O’Neill said she hopes the tumultuous evening doesn’t set the tone for the rest of the campaign.
“The is the first one. There are 86 more to go, and we want to make sure that they run really smoothly and that they’re open, fair and transparent … and that everyone is following the rules.”
Kenney is expected to comment on the controversy Thursday.