Thread by @climatekeith

A requiem for Jason Kenney: He rose to power as Stephen Harper’s most capable lieutenant, but once he sat in the big chair it quickly became apparent that his political smarts lay in tactics, not strategy #ableg

2. We saw this most prominently in his handling of Covid, but his ‘fight back’ strategy attacking environmentalists as the source of Alberta’s woes also floundered as the lavishly-funded War Room & Allan Inquiry served up only political punchlines (I certainly had a few laughs)

3. Kenney’s ‘Jobs, Economy, Pipelines’ mantra played well on campaign trail but like King Canute ordering the tide to go out, his majestic words were no match for what the energy transition he so despised is doing to Albertan economy or what climate change is doing to its people

4. The energy transition (necessary to avoid climate chaos) brings economic & political disruption. Alberta, once a bastion of stability with 3 changes of government & 12 Premiers in its first century, will soon have its 7th Premier since 2011 (only Notley survived a full term)

5. The question on my mind: What will the loss of Canada’s most prominent and most effective proponent of petro-nationalism as means of blocking action on climate change mean for our politics? #cdnpoli

6. Kenney's history on the anti-climate file is surprisingly deep. It is no accident that Ezra Levant’s pre-Rebel organization “Ethical Oil” was staffed by Kenney political staffers (Alykhan Velshi & Jamie Ellerton). At national & provl levels, Kenney mainstreamed Levant’s work

7. Kenney recruited Doug Ford, and by extension Ontario, into the “resistance” against the carbon tax & climate action in general, redefining Conservative politics on this issue (in a way that is not likely in their long-term electoral benefit) macleans.ca/politics/ottaw…

8. Kenney’s hawkishness in opposing any measures to address climate crisis allowed the major oil companies to seem reasonable in comparison (oil cos now publicly support climate action in principle, while opposing any specific actions that would reduce demand for oil).

9. Kenney will be replaced as Premier of Alberta but none of the heir-apparents will have his national profile or be able to play his erstwhile role as federal / CPC kingmaker.
It's a new day in Canadian climate politics /fin