Alberta premier calls on Jason Kenney to take stronger stand against hate groups

Premier Rachel Notley says United Conservative Party leader Jason Kenneyneeds to stop allowing people with racist and homophobic views from running in nominations and take a stronger stand against groups like the Soldiers of Odin.

"The question is, why are these folks showing up at these events and feeling as though they are welcome?" Notley said Tuesday. "If you use dog-whistle politics often enough, eventually, soon enough, people are going to respond to the whistle."

• UCP says candidates unknowingly posed for photos with Soldiers of Odin members

Notley'snews conference comes after three UCPEdmonton-WestHendaycandidates Nicole Williams, Lance Coulter and LeilaHoule each posed withSoldiers of Odin members at aUCPpub night in Edmonton. The photos started circulating on social media Sunday.

Notley said Kenneyneeds toclarify how this will never happen again, sayingelected officials need to call out hate when they see it.

"This is very serious and should not be downplayed. Alberta's minority communities need to know that their government stands with them. That every elected official stands with then whatever party they belong to," Notley said.

"There is no place for groups like the Soldiers of Odin in our public life."

'Its not actually an isolated incident'

6 years ago

Duration 1:11

Premier Rachel Notley says anti-immigration groups like the Soldiers of Odin are showing up at UCP events because they feel welcomed there.

Soldiers of Odin is an anti-immigration groupfounded in 2015 in Finland by Mika Ranta, a white supremacist. Canadian branches of the group claim to be non-racist conservatives who seek to keep Canada safe.

After speaking at a Calgary Chamber event on Tuesday, Kenneysaid he was disappointed to see Notley engaging in "gutter politics."

"It would be nicer if the premier were to actually stand in solidarity with our Aboriginal nomination candidates who were obviously the targets of political mischief," he said.

Kenneyrepeated the explanation he provided Sunday on Twitter, that supporters of the Alberta Independence Party "who are apparently are associated with various kooky organizations" crashed the pub night to take photos with the candidates.

His tweet stated: "We obviously condemn any group that promote racial prejudice. Members of the Alberta Independence Party and groups like the Soldiers of Odin are not welcome atUCPevents, period."

Alberta chapter president Tyson Hunttold CBC News the Soldiers of Odininformed the UCP one week in advance that they intended to attend the pub night.

"So they knew we were there. We weren't hiding.We never snuckin," Hunt saidon Tuesday while awaiting a tour of the Alberta Legislature.

Hunt said the Soldiers of Odin colours are emblazoned on the backs of their jackets "clear as day,"and the group sought prior approval from the bar to show their colours before attendingthe Edmontonevent.

Hunt added that it comes as no surprise that Kenneyis distancing himself from the group.

"For us to be denouncedand thrown under the bus like that, eh, it's just another day in the office. We get it all the time."

Although the candidates claimed they did not know who the group was and what it espoused, the issue has touched off a storm of controversy.

Notley said the UCP could be given the benefit of the doubt if it was a one-time event. But she says eight UCP nomination candidates were exposed in recent months for holding homophobic or racist views. Six were allowed torun.

"As a public official, Mr. Kenney has to a duty to do more than tweet his disavowal," Notley said.

"He needs to speak forcefully and decisively to the issue. He needs to hold people accountable. And he needs to stop approving candidates for nomination who espouse hate in any of its forms."

With files from Kim Trynacity and CBCCalgary