Bell: Kenney upbeat emerging from Trudeau gabfest
Rick Bell
Updated: December 11, 2019 8:30 AM MST
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau meets with Alberta Premier Jason Kenney on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick ORG XMIT: SKP117
No zingers for the Dinger this day.
We've come a long way from that moment in this column when Jason Kenney said Trudeau was an empty trust-fund millionaire with the political depth of a finger bowl who couldn't read a briefing note longer than a cocktail napkin.
Lots of cheers from the Alberta heartland for that turn of phrase.
This week, Kenney isn't in Alberta's heartland. He is in Ottawa wanting something out of Trudeau.
Actually many somethings.
He is on a diplomatic mission.
Still, you might be half expecting a dust-up, an exhibition of political mixed martial arts, a toe-to-toe battle, a face-off between two big guns.
Or Trudeau could just send the premier on his way with the usual serving of sweet nothings and empty-calorie talking points, leaving Kenney to share his disappointment, frustration or even his anger with the waiting press salivating for a juicy headline about the folks out west being stiffed again.
But instead we have a yarn some of you might find gobsmacking. The heavy in this story isn't so heavy.
The script isn't exactly a beautiful day in the neighbourhood but it sure as hell is far from Apocalypse Now.
It's said Kenney thinks this journey to Ottawa was a good one.
The premier emerges from the Trudeau to-and-fro saying the chatter was frank and he made a strong case for action and … gulp … Trudeau seemed to be "responsive on a number of points."
"The prime minister was willing to listen to our case and indicate an openness on a number of issues."
One biggie is $2.4 billion Alberta wants as a rebate on equalization. It's the easiest part of the mountain for Kenney to climb.
Trudeau could cut that cheque. Trudeau likes cutting cheques and he might see it as shut-up money.
Can hear inside Trudeau's cranium.
See what I've done for Alberta, now stop whining. And you're getting a pipeline, too. What more do you want?
Apparently, there is a shot the cheque will one day be in the mail.
The premier also mentions Trudeau isn't scrapping the new law making it a lot harder to get a new pipeline green-lighted.
But Trudeau is apparently willing to work with Alberta on the regulations making that law a reality.
"We need a strong Alberta economy to prosper nationally and the prime minister said he understands that," says Kenney.
As for the PM, Trudeau says he wants to work together to support Alberta. He says it's very important.
Trudeau's man for the West, his voice for the colonies, Winnipeg's Jim Carr, says the chinwag was … gulp … warm.
Is Kenney optimistic or pessimistic? The man says he's realistic. The next few weeks will tell the tale on Trudeau.
Kenney adds he always tries to be hopeful pointing out he knows hope is a hard thing for a lot of Albertans.
Well, much of Kenney's inner circle and Trudeau's inner circle also met and it didn't lead to a bench-clearing brawl. Trudeau's people reached out to "open a dialogue."
Kenney gave a speech to an Ottawa crowd of movers and shakers and got a standing ovation.
He scored applause when he said he was a Canadian patriot.
Kenney said a conversation with Trudeau No. 2 Chrystia Freeland was productive. She's from Peace River, don't you know, but she represents a swanky Toronto riding far, far from the Peace Country.
Also in Ottawa on this day, Calgary Conservative MP Michelle Rempel is fighting the good fight.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel, pictured at her election headquarters after being re-elected in the October federal election. Dean Pilling/Postmedia
Rempel says Kenney is doing the right thing, extending the olive branch while pressing Trudeau to actually do something.
But the picture isn't pretty no matter what syllables come out of Trudeau's mouth.
There are a lot of reasons to believe the prime minister is full of it.
We all know Trudeau really doesn't give a damn about Alberta. He doesn't need our votes. He doesn't like how we make money. We're not his people. His people are not our people.
Rempel wants to be blunt. This column is all about blunt.
"Trudeau is looking at this situation and he's going: I don't care. I can act with impunity. What are the political consequences for me screwing over Alberta? And he's probably not seeing any," says the MP.
Screwing over Alberta? Say it ain't so. He's listening to us now. Gulp.
rbell@postmedia.com
Alberta politics
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