EDMONTON (660 NEWS) – Premier Jason Kenney has removed an MLA from his caucus saying he failed to represent his constituents.
In a statement released Thursday, Kenney said Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pat Rehn is no longer a part of the UCP Caucus effective immediately.
The most important job of an MLA is to represent his or her constituents.
I have made the decision to remove Pat Rehn from the UCP Caucus, effective immediately.
MLA Rehn will sit as an independent MLA. He will not be permitted to run for a future UCP nomination.
My statement: pic.twitter.com/tZePgrSoE3
— Jason Kenney ???????????????????????? (@jkenney) January 14, 2021
Rehn was one of several UCP members to travel overseas during the holidays and was criticism from the town of Slave Lake for his performance saying they have lost faith in his abilities and asked him to resign.
Town Council published an open letter calling for Rehn’s resignation saying he consistently fails to attend meetings with the town, doesn’t live in the community and spends more time with his business in Texas.
In response, Rehn refused to step down and accused those of council of using the travel scandal as a way to sow political division.
When Slave Lake Town Council initially published their concerns in an open letter, Rehn responded with a Facebook post (on Jan. 5) criticizing the former NDP government, talking about his business experience, and saying he wouldn't step down from office. #ableg #abpoli #Alberta pic.twitter.com/VS2ra99dhl
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) January 14, 2021
Speaking to 660 NEWS the mayor of Slave Lake, Tyler Warman said he hopes Rehn takes this moment as a wake-up call.
“If (Rehn) truly cares about this region and its people, (then he should) allow someone else that’s interested in doing that job take that position on.”
Warman said senior provincial officials are working with the town on priority issues.
He added that for almost two years council has told Rehn in person and by letter that it’s unhappy with him for failing to show up for meetings and for not reading briefing materials for ones he did attend.
-With files from The Canadian Press
