War of words erupts between Kenney and PC president following fine

The man running to lead the Alberta PCs is talking after getting fined by the party.

Jason Kenney held a hospitality meeting in Edmonton, in the same building where the Tories were to start their Delegate Selection Meeting. The party fined him $5,000 for breaking the Leadership Election Code of Conduct and Ethics and a second selection meeting was ordered.

In a statement, Jason Kenney said he is disappointed, but will comply with the decision for showing up to last week’s meeting.

“In Edmonton Ellerslie, local supporters of our campaign organized a get-together prior to the beginning of the Delegate Selection Meeting for those running to support the Unite Alberta campaign.

“They did so in a different space rented by our campaign. Jason Kenney simply intended to drop-by this event briefly to thank those running in support of his candidacy, and was at no point going to attend the Delegate Selection Meeting (DSM.),” Kenney’s statement read.

He said his campaign “repeatedly sought clarification of the vague rules” about what you can and can’t do before the meetings.

The head of the Alberta PC party said she is disappointed, by what she says is a misleading statement released by Kenney’s team.

“At no time during the investigation did our chief returning officer find that there were specific questions asked about hosting a hospitality room or the candidate coming on site,” party president Katherine O’Neill said. “And I do want to say that I was at that meeting and I gave verbal clarification that night before the meeting to Mr. Kenney’s scrutineers that the candidate was not to be in the building.”

O’Neill added, at one point the party received a letter from Kenney’s campaign asking for clarification on the rules. She said a volunteer replied back and there were no further questions.

The Board of Directors ruling against Kenney is final and cannot be appealed.

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