Alberta’s United Conservative Party has invited Ontario Premier Doug Ford to Calgary for a “Scrap The Carbon Tax Rally.”
The UCP has posted an image on Twitter of its leader Jason Kenney and Ford to promote the Oct. 5 event.
READ MORE: Hundreds of Albertans protest carbon tax at second legislature rally
Kenney, the leader of Alberta’s Opposition, has promised to repeal the province’s carbon tax if his party wins the 2019 spring election.
He has also pledged to fight any attempt by Ottawa to impose a national price on carbon.
READ MORE: Kenney returns to Ottawa as wing man in Tories’ fight against carbon tax
Watch below: (from March 22, 2018) Alberta Opposition Leader Jason Kenney reacts to the Alberta NDP’s plan to increase the carbon tax.
Ford’s new Progressive Conservative government is challenging the federal government’s carbon pricing plan in court.
A United Conservative party official says both leaders will give speeches at the rally.
LISTEN: Jason Kenney joins Danielle Smith to preview his anti-carbon tax rally with Doug Ford
Lori Williams, an associate professor of policy studies at Calgary’s Mount Royal University, said she’s not surprised Kenney would host a rally against a tax that’s unpopular with so many people, but said bringing in Ford comes with some “political risk.”
“I think the risk here is bringing Doug Ford, who is associated with some pretty major controversies recently, and having him come to Alberta,” she said.
“I don’t see particularly the gain or how he’s (Kenney) going to broaden his base of support by bringing in a controversial figure like Doug Ford.”
READ MORE: Ontario government to make ‘major announcement’ on Drive Clean vehicle emissions testing
Watch below: Some Global News videos about Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Williams said she believes the anti-carbon tax rally highlights an ongoing political dispute between Kenney and Canada’s prime minister.
READ MORE: Jason Kenney stands by saying Trudeau ‘can’t read a briefing note longer than a cocktail napkin’
–With files from Global News’ Phil Heidenreich