Why Albertans Are Still Fed Up with Jason Kenney: A Voice from the Heartland

A Voice from the Heartland

December 28th, 2025

By: "A proud but frustrated Albertan,"

As an Albertan who's lived through the highs and lows of our province's politics, I can tell you firsthand: the resentment toward former Premier Jason Kenney runs deep. Even though he's been out of office since 2022, his shadow lingers. Kenney, who once united the right to form the UCP and win a strong majority in 2019, ended up alienating the very base that put him in power. And now, from the sidelines, he's still lobbing insults at fellow Albertans who dare to question the status quo—calling them "MAGA North," "right-wing extremists," or fringe separatists. It's this dismissive attitude that fuels so much discontent.

Kenney's downfall started with his handling of COVID-19. Many Albertans, especially in rural areas and among conservatives, felt he imposed heavy-handed restrictions that crushed livelihoods and freedoms. Lockdowns, mandates, and what some saw as flip-flopping eroded trust. By the time of his 2022 UCP leadership review, he barely scraped 51.4% support—and even then, he stepped down, acknowledging the division. Albertans were fed up with a leader who preached personal responsibility but enforced top-down rules. To this day, that resentment simmers; it was a key reason the party moved on to Danielle Smith.

But Kenney didn't fade quietly. In recent years, as talk of Alberta sovereignty has grown amid frustrations with Ottawa, he's been vocal in slamming critics of federal policies. He's grouped Alberta separatists with "anti-vaxxers," "MAGA North enthusiasts," and even "anti-Ukraine types." He dismisses separation as a "fringe" grift, counterproductive, and divisive—while ignoring the legitimate grievances driving it.

These labels—"MAGA North," "extremists"—are defamatory slurs meant to shut down debate without engaging it. Politicians like Kenney use them when they refuse to listen to the full spectrum of voices. Instead of representing all Albertans as one united province, they slander opponents, libel their motives, and push ahead with their own agendas. It's elitist, divisive, and exactly why trust in leaders is at rock bottom.

Take Ukraine funding as an example. Kenney has been a staunch supporter of sending billions overseas, even as Canada grapples with its own crises. Since Russia's invasion, Canada has committed nearly $22 billion in aid to Ukraine, including over $12 billion in direct financial support. That's taxpayer money—much of it from resource-rich provinces like Alberta—going abroad while we're facing skyrocketing costs of living, healthcare wait times (remember those tragic ER deaths?), housing shortages, and an economy teetering on recession.

Albertans aren't heartless; we support helping those in need. But charity begins at home. When our own people are struggling—farmers hit by federal policies, workers facing job losses, families waiting hours in emergency rooms—prioritizing billions for foreign conflicts feels tone-deaf. Kenney barks at "anti-Ukraine" critics, lumping them with extremists, but many are just everyday folks asking: Why not fix Canada first?

This ties directly to the growing sovereignty movement. Under Premier Danielle Smith, the government has made it easier for citizens to trigger referendums on key issues, including separation if enough signatures are gathered. Smith has said she'd respect the process for a potential 2026 vote, though she personally favors stronger autonomy within Canada. It's a response to years of feeling ignored by Ottawa—carbon taxes, pipeline blocks, equalization formulas that take from Alberta and give elsewhere.

Albertans are waking up. We're tired of leaders like Kenney who prioritize global causes over provincial needs, who save face internationally while barking at homegrown dissent. He attacks separatists as divisive, yet his own era sowed seeds of frustration. We're fed up with politicians who ignore the people's voice, slander opponents, and spend recklessly abroad while domestic perils mount.

Kenney wanted to "unite the right," but he divided Albertans. His ongoing criticism only reminds us why we moved on. It's time for leaders who listen, represent everyone, and put Alberta—and Canada—first.

From a proud but frustrated Albertan,

Time for real change.