Is Jason Kenney Responsible For Conservative MPs Losing Their Seats In Alberta?

Good morning. Canadians woke up Tuesday morning to the results of what some are calling the most status quo federal election in this country’s history, with the total seat counts for each party barely changing.

How Significant Was The ‘Jason Kenney Factor’?

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, a former cabinet minister under Stephen Harper, kept a very low profile during the course of the election campaign in what many regard as a deliberate strategy to avoid Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole being associated with Kenney’s unpopular government.

• Kenney introduced a vaccine passport system last week to curb rapidly rising COVID-19 cases, and made a qualified half-apology for his government’s poor handling of the pandemic fourth wave.
• Medical professionals have warned that Alberta’s health system is already approaching collapse, as new COVID-19 cases are overburdening the province's hospitals and intensive care units.
• Kenney is facing a leadership review and an internal revolt from leading members of his own party, who are calling for him to resign.

On election night, the federal Conservatives lost a seat in Edmonton to the NDP and a seat in Calgary to the Liberals. Also in Edmonton, a third Conservative incumbent is narrowly trailing behind the Liberals. To what extent were these losses caused by Kenney’s failures?