Jason Kenney
Jason Kenney is a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2016, as leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party from 2017 to 2022, and as premier of Alberta from 2019 to 2022.
Jason Kenney is a Canadian politician who served as a Member of Parliament from 1997 to 2016, as leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party from 2017 to 2022, and as premier of Alberta from 2019 to 2022. He was born in Oakville, Ontario, and held several federal cabinet portfolios in the government of Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Kenney is a major figure in recent Canadian conservative politics, with a career spanning federal cabinet government and Alberta provincial leadership.
Early life and education
Jason Kenney was born in Oakville, Ontario, in 1968. Sources also note studies in philosophy at the University of San Francisco and earlier education in Saskatchewan.
Federal political career
Kenney was elected to Parliament in 1997 and represented Calgary Southeast for nearly 20 years. He later served in multiple cabinet positions in Stephen Harper’s government, becoming one of its most prominent ministers.
Alberta leadership
Kenney became leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party in 2017. He led the party to victory in 2019 and served as premier until 2022, when he resigned following a leadership review.
Public and private-sector roles
Before entering elected office, Kenney was president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation in the 1990s. After leaving office, he held advisory and private-sector roles, including with Bennett Jones and the C.D. Howe Institute.
Key facts
- First elected to the House of Commons in 1997 as MP for Calgary Southeast.
- Served in several federal cabinet roles under Stephen Harper, including citizenship and immigration, employment and social development, and national defence.
- Elected leader of Alberta’s United Conservative Party in 2017 after its creation through conservative merger politics in Alberta.
- Led the UCP to a majority government in the 2019 Alberta general election.
- Served as Alberta’s premier from 2019 until stepping down in 2022 after a leadership review.
Kenney is a major figure in recent Canadian conservative politics, with a career spanning federal cabinet government and Alberta provincial leadership. For Canadian readers, he is especially notable for his role in immigration policy under Stephen Harper and in shaping Alberta’s United Conservative Party.[1][7]
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jason Kenney?
When was Jason Kenney born?
What offices did Jason Kenney hold in the federal government?
When did Jason Kenney become premier of Alberta?
When did Jason Kenney stop being premier?
What was Jason Kenney’s first elected office?
References
- The Canadian Encyclopedia — https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/jason-kenneySupports: Birth, MP career, federal cabinet roles, UCP leadership, premiership, resignation in 2022.
- Parliament of Canada — https://www.ourcommons.ca/members/en/jason-kenney(1302)Supports: He is no longer an MP; constituency and political affiliation.
- Wilson Center — https://www.wilsoncenter.org/person/hon-jason-kenneySupports: Premiership, leadership, federal ministerial career, 2019 election victory.
- CORIM — https://www.corim.qc.ca/fr/biographie/16/Jason_KenneySupports: Birthplace, education, federal political career, prior role at Canadian Taxpayers Federation.
- C.D. Howe Institute — https://www.cdhowe.org/our-people/the-honourable-jason-kenney-pc-eca/Supports: Premier term, federal cabinet roles, MP history, post-political affiliation.