Alberta’s new Opposition leader has officially been sworn in during a ceremony at the provincial legislature.
Jason Kenney, leader of the United Conservative Party, won a byelection last month to become the legislature member for the constituency of Calgary Lougheed.
The seat became available when UCP member Dave Rodney stepped down to allow Kenney to run.
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Kenney, a former federal cabinet minister, won the leadership of Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives in early 2017.
He successfully arranged a merger with the Wildrose Opposition and then beat its leader, Brian Jean, to become head of the new party.
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Kenney will take his seat in the legislature when the spring sitting begins on March 8.
“In a few weeks time, when I take my seat and my place, it will be to act as leader of (the official Opposition) and I hope … to do so in a constructive fashion,” he said at the swearing-in ceremony Monday.
Afterwards, Kenney gave a stump-style speech to his supporters at a downtown Edmonton hotel. He criticized the federal carbon tax, pledged to work hard for “common-sense solutions” and committed to raise the bar on discourse in the legislature.
Kenney left without taking questions from the media.