KENNEY REFUSES TO CONDEMN RACIST, SEXIST AND ANTI-SEMITIC COMMENTS FROM HIS DISGRACED APPOINTEE

EDMONTON - Today, Premier Jason Kenney refused to condemn the racist, sexist and anti-Semitic comments made by Leighton Grey, who resigned in disgrace on Friday from a panel that helps pick Alberta’s judges.

Grey questioned if too many women were being appointed as judges in Alberta, and attacked George Floyd, the man recently killed by Minneapolis police. Grey promoted anti-Semitic conspiracy theories that Jewish businessman George Soros was manipulating European judges, and funding the worldwide Black Lives Matter movement “for his own evil agenda.” 

In accepting Grey’s abrupt resignation from the Provincial Court Nominating Committee on Friday, Justice Minister Doug Schweitzer made no criticism of Grey’s comments, called Grey a “successful and able attorney,” and argued that “a diversity of views makes bodies like the PCNC stronger.”

Opposition Justice Critic Kathleen Ganley repeatedly called on Kenney to rise in the legislature and condemn Grey’s racism, sexism and anti-Semitism. The premier refused to respond, and neither Schweitzer nor Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu would condemn Grey’s remarks.

“I am deeply troubled that Jason Kenney will not confront or condemn racism, sexism or anti-Semitism, or apologize for appointing a person with those views into a position of power in Alberta,” said Rachel Notley, leader of the NDP Official Opposition. “It sends a dangerous signal to hateful extremists when the Premier of Alberta is silent when these opinions are being promoted by his own appointees.”

“It should be extremely concerning to any supporter of human rights in Alberta that neither the Premier nor the Justice Minister would apologize for this appointment, or commit to ensuring that this will not happen again,” Notley said. “Jason Kenney must publicly condemn Leighton Grey’s comments, and apologize for his Justice Minister’s statement that prejudice has a place within a ‘diversity of views.’”