I know there are people convinced that the public letter from 15 (now 17) UCP MLAs is some sort of 3D strategic chess from Kenney. I'm sorry I don't buy it. What Premier wants 25%+ of his caucus in public revolt over govt handling of the most important issue facing the province?
The letter reflects an internal battle within the UCP caucus for months that has now gone public. It also illustrates the rural/urban and ideological splits that we have seen in polling data.
This defiance also illustrates the dropping overall support of the UCP. You wouldn't get backbenchers going public like this if the UCP were leading in the polls.
The UCP is less than 4 years old. There are geographical/ideological tensions within the party that are now being exacerbated by a pandemic and dropping popularity. As I have written elsewhere, conservative parties in Alberta have a tendency to splinter.
I know people will contend that the letter couldn't have been written without the support of Kenney. But occam's razor is that the simplest answer makes the most sense: the letter reflects the dissatisfaction that Kenney is facing within his own caucus.
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