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Damage Control Needed On Alberta Opposition Leader Jason Kenney's India Trip: Trade Minister

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 19 Sep, 2018 12:28 PM

EDMONTON — The Alberta government says it will be doing "damage control" after Opposition leader Jason Kenney's visit to India.

Trade Minister Deron Bilous says there appears to be confusion in India over who Kenney is speaking for and questions over what he is saying as he meets this week with business and political leaders.

"There's already been confusion," Bilous said Tuesday, citing a social media post from an Indian government cabinet minister who referred to Kenney as a minister of the Crown. "We don't know exactly what he is saying, how he is portraying himself."

Bilous said Kenney doesn't speak on behalf of the government of Alberta or the government of Canada.

"What we don't know is if he is clarifying where there are misunderstandings ... but we're not about to let this visit of Mr. Kenney's potentially damage the government of Alberta's relationship with India."

Bilous said they will do follow-up work to deal with any confusion.

"We've directed our Alberta trade office to do damage control, correcting the record wherever we can," he said.

"They'll be doing follow-up conversations with all of the Indian officials that Mr. Kenney meets with."

Kenney and two caucus members are using their own money and United Conservative Party funds for the trip to promote Alberta's oil industry and express concerns about Indian tariffs on peas and lentils.

Nitin Gadkari, the minister responsible for roads and other resources, tweeted out this week, "Met Mr. Jason Kenney, Hon'ble Minister, Alberta, Canada. We discussed about exploring areas of mutual co-operation in infrastructure sector."

Kenney has also given multiple interviews with media in that country making statements that appear to conflict with ones made earlier in Alberta.

Speaking to CNN-News18, he urged Indians to invest, saying, "Canada, amongst the developed countries — Alberta in particular — have low taxes. We have one of the best educated workforces, efficient power prices. We have a lot of strategic advantages for that kind of investment."

Kenney's UCP has, in fact, been sharply critical of Premier Rachel Notley's power pricing system and its tax regime.

Two months ago, Kenney said the current Alberta tax program was not luring investment but in fact undermining it, and that if his party forms government, he will axe the existing carbon tax and then look at further tax reductions.

"I want to cut other taxes to help bring back investment and get people working again," Kenney said in a PostMedia interview published July 12.

Bilous said he hopes Albertans are scratching their heads.

"Mr. Kenney is saying one thing to Albertans and another to an international audience," he said.

"This is where it is critical that our Alberta office in India will be following up with all the officials that Mr. Kenney meets with."

UCP spokeswoman Christine Myatt said Kenney connected with Bilous prior to the trip and is working to build a positive "Team Alberta" approach.

"It is disappointing to hear the minister suggest that Mr. Kenney’s visit to India has or will in any way hurt Alberta," Myatt said in a statement.

"Mr. Kenney is more than happy to forward Alberta and Canada's interests while in India, utilizing his high-level international connections.

"It's quite clear that this latest NDP smear job is a desperate attempt to distract from its disastrous record.”

Agriculture Minister Oneil Carlier has led two trade missions to India over the last two years on behalf of the province.

Enjoyed a wide ranging hour long conversation with Punjab Chief Minister (ie Premier) Captain Amarinder Singh @capt_amarinder at his residence in Chandigarh. Discussed agricultural issues, immigration, Alberta’s Punjabi community, investment. Thank-you for hosting me, Captain ji! pic.twitter.com/aBdp7QZdbd
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 19, 2018

Between meetings in Delhi, I had a chance to visit Humayun’s Tomb complex, a @UNESCO World Heritage Site. A stunning vestige of Mughal Empire Islamic architecture, restored last decade thanks largely to the generosity of the Aga Khan. pic.twitter.com/blUpYZMgfr
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 19, 2018

Had an excellent hour long discussion with Punjab state Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who is something of a renaissance man. Learned a great deal from him about Indian agriculture, and we shared our common passion for history. pic.twitter.com/TpTc66VVEv
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 19, 2018

Thank-you so much for your warm hospitality, Partap ji @Partap_Sbajwa. It was an honour to meet so many of your parliamentary colleagues from across party lines. https://t.co/dfe1qzJzM5
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 19, 2018

Delighted to meet with the India Director of the Shashtri Indo Canada Institute https://t.co/l4DzkQpVoN Dr. Prachi Kaul. I’ve long been a supporter of the Shashtri Institute’s work to strengthen cultural & intellectual ties between Canada & India. pic.twitter.com/93sOE3SDfa
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 19, 2018

Visited the magnificent BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham complex near New Delhi, which includes one of the largest and most strikingly beautiful Hindu temples on Earth. A brilliant modern renewal of ancient Hindu tradition. A (much smaller!) BAPS Mandhir is being built in Balzac AB. pic.twitter.com/Pbb6rmHlIA
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 19, 2018

Honoured to be welcomed by many old friends & acquaintances at a reception put on by Canadians in New Delhi. Many good conversations on prospective investments, study abroad opportunities, etc. pic.twitter.com/gUiiulM4lp
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 19, 2018

Thank you to dozens of Members of the Indian Lok Sabha (MPs) and Rajya Sabha (Senators) from all major parties for welcoming me at a Parliamentary reception in New Delhi. Great to renew old acquaintances & make new friends of Canada & Alberta. Thanks @Partap_Sbajwa for hosting! pic.twitter.com/wCWGonn43U
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 18, 2018

Between meetings in Delhi, I had a chance to visit Humayun’s Tomb complex, a @UNESCO World Heritage Site. A stunning vestige of Mughal Empire Islamic architecture, restored last decade thanks largely to the generosity of the Aga Khan. pic.twitter.com/wEI9YOvkxL
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 18, 2018

Exclusive: I oppose any kind of extremism, says Canadian leader Jason Kenny
Watch the interview with @Geeta_Mohan #ITVideo
Full interview: https://t.co/4l1MRvGwbW pic.twitter.com/VPGzJTQLDs
— India Today (@IndiaToday) September 18, 2018

Thank you to Indian Foreign Minister @SushmaSwaraj for the warm welcome in New Delhi today, and for spending a full hour of your very valuable time with us to discuss issues of mutual interest between India and Alberta. pic.twitter.com/AMRekZ0Ybv
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 18, 2018

https://t.co/k3kMCDEUEX Ex #Canada Defence Min @jkenney says India should not profit Mullah regime in #Iran by buying oil,bats for Canadian oil & gas, on #Khalistan says support freedom of expression but not violence. My exclusive I/V @thetribunechd @nadirypatel @VikasSwarup pic.twitter.com/K00XQO65CF
— Smita Sharma (@Smita_Sharma) September 18, 2018

Why should Alberta build ties with India? Because a fellow democracy of 1.3 billion people with a rapidly modernizing economy represents a major potential market for Alberta’s ethical energy products. pic.twitter.com/vOIUiSCKuQ
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) September 17, 2018

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