Ric McIver not ruling out run for PC leadership

RicMcIver, theInterim Progressive Conservative leader,isn't ruling out running for the party's top job, or taking a run at Jason Kenney's federal seat when he steps down this fall to do the same.

"I have not made that decision but that contest hasn't started yet," he told the Calgary Eyeopener on Monday.

Kenney announced last week he is running to be leader of the PC party and will step down from his seat as MP for Calgary-Midnapore when the race officially starts Oct. 1.

Rumours have swirled that McIver could also run for Kenney's federal seat, something he didn't rule out.

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"I've heard that rumour too but when I say I haven't decided what I'm going to do, that's thefact," he said.

"My intentions right now are to complete the four-year term I was elected for as a Progressive Conservative MLA."

McIver said he wasn't discouraged by Stephen Harper's endorsement of Kenney at a Stampede event on the weekend hosted by the federal Conservatives.

"Everybody is entitled to their opinion, even if you're an MP who used to be prime minister, you're still entitled to your opinion," said McIver.

"It's one opinion and, if he buys a party membership, he can even vote."

Kenney has said his goal is to unite Alberta's political right under a single banner, somethingMcIver wouldn't say whether he supports.

"I'm interested in returning to government," he said.

"I'm interested in removing the NDP, I believe their policies are very harmful for Alberta."

Premier Rachel Notley said Kenney could be in for a tough time during the race.

"I believe, quite frankly, that politicians who leave Alberta and then come back a decade and a half later run the risk of making some unfortunate assumptions about what Alberta is like and what Albertans care about," she said at a Stampede breakfast Monday.

"I believe they like to have their choices respected. And I believethat Albertansbeing a young, diverse province have a very different view on a number of key issues."