In an interview with Conservative Journal Canada, former Alberta premier and federal cabinet minister Jason Kenney weighs in on where Canadian conservatism stands after the recent federal election and more than a decade of Liberal government.
Kenney points to a clear generational shift in Canadian politics. Younger voters, he says, are increasingly open to conservative ideas after being priced out of housing, squeezed by stagnant wages, and impacted by crime, disorder, and high immigration levels. He sees this as a real opportunity for Conservatives going forward.
On energy, Kenney cautiously welcomes Prime Minister Mark Carney’s agreement with Alberta, calling it a more pragmatic approach than the Trudeau-era policies he says were driven by ideology. While a northwest B.C. pipeline remains uncertain, Kenney stresses the need for regulatory certainty to support energy development, reliable power, and future growth.
Kenney is blunt in his assessment of B.C. Premier David Eby, accusing him of undermining economic development, private property rights, and national unity. He warns that recent court rulings and growing legal uncertainty around land and resource projects risk serious economic consequences for British Columbia.
Drawing on his time as Canada’s longest-serving immigration minister, Kenney says the Trudeau government’s rapid population growth and mismanagement of the system helped fuel the housing crisis and weaken public confidence. While he acknowledges early steps by the Carney government to rein things in, he argues meaningful reform will require tough decisions.
The conversation also touches on trade and foreign policy. Kenney echoes former prime minister Stephen Harper’s view that Canada needs to boost competitiveness, remove internal trade barriers, move resource projects forward, and diversify exports beyond the United States.
Kenney also addresses the rise in antisemitism, calling for less political hand-wringing and more enforcement. He argues governments have allowed extremist rhetoric and intimidation to go unchecked, with serious consequences.
He closes by stressing the importance of building long-term relationships with new Canadian communities around shared conservative values, rejecting extremism on both the left and right, and continuing strong support for Ukraine as it defends its sovereignty.
