Brian Jean endorsement of Premier Smith a sign ‘there is a real divide’ in UCP: communications consultant

Alberta’s premier has received a ringing endorsement from a former rival, weeks before a UCP referendum on her leadership.

It’s one that is both being cheered by party faithful and raising speculation online that Danielle Smith may fear she doesn’t not have enough support to continue as premier.

“The premier is doing a great job,” Brian Jean said in a video posted to social media on Thursday.

An important message for @Alberta_UCP members: pic.twitter.com/pgJQGgqQyD

— Brian Jean (@BrianJeanAB) August 29, 2024

“I spent 10 years in Ottawa and served in the caucus of Stephen Harper. I was in the caucus of Jason Kenney, and I can tell you that Danielle Smith is doing the best job of running a caucus I’ve seen.”

Jean ran against Smith for the UCP leadership, and the premier’s job, after he helped rally support to oust Jason Kenney in 2022. 

At the time, Jean also accused Smith of “selling snake oil” with her Sovereignty Act proposal. He now serves as her energy minister.

Tom Vernon, a strategic communications consultant with Crestview Strategy and a former legislature reporter, said he couldn’t recall a video quite like Jean’s.

“I don’t know if she looks desperate. But it looks like there is a real divide in the party and they are trying to close that divide,” Vernon told CityNews.

Vernon believes Smith will get more than 50 per cent support – she won the leadership with 54 per cent – but said that hasn’t always been enough for conservative leaders to stay on.

“There is a history here of conservative parties and conservative leaders not lasting an entire term,” he said.

Smith has been on a UCP townhall tour this summer, where she’s dropped controversial ideas like removing Alberta Health Services as the operator of some hospitals and possibly replacing the RCMP with sheriffs.

“We need better,” Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said in his own social media video.

“We need a government that is competent, that is not ideological, that does not make up its plans on the fly to save oneself in a leadership review.”

A statement from the premier’s office ignored a request to respond to allegations she’s pandering to her base with ideas popular with far-right UCP voters.

Instead, the statement said Smith is happy to hear from Albertans on her tour about what she’s doing right and where she could do better.

On the streets of Edmonton’s Whyte Avenue Friday, and area known for strong NDP support, there was an appetite for a new premier.

“When she’s questioned on things, she avoids answering them directly. So, I’m not a fan,” Alia Ali Mahomed told CityNews while out for a walk with her dogs.

“I’m not a big fan of her. Most of her policies I disagree with,” Jeff Gusdal said.

“I honestly think there’s a lot of people who could do a lot better for us than Danielle Smith,” opined Tyler Metcalfe.

The UCP leadership vote is Nov. 2 in Red Deer.