Tories preening feathers for leadership race, Nenshi tells committee

Mayor Naheed Nenshi hopes preening Tory politicians wont slow the governments policy agenda by quitting cabinet posts to pursue their partys leadership.

He told council colleagues Thursday he was enthused after a meeting this week with Premier Dave Hancock, confident that Alison Redfords temporary replacement wants to move fast on a number of long-stewing files.

But he expressed worry that may not happen because several key ministers are chomping at the bit to run for leader instead of staying in cabinet.

He insinuated that a couple of Tory ministers were politicking from the pulpit on Wednesday in eulogies at the memorial service for Jon Lord, the former MLA and alderman who died unexpectedly last week.

Ive seen several of them over the course of the last week, and oh my gosh are they preening their feathers, the mayor said Thursday at councils intergovernmental affairs committee.

Just getting ready. Even yesterday, we saw a bit of that, didnt we, Councillor Demong, on stage?

Coun. Peter Demong, who also spoke at Lords service, replied curtly: No comment.

Two cabinet ministers, Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk, delivered eulogies for the man they both knew in politics and personally. Both are among six cabinet ministers who have mused about running to become PC leader and premier, although it remains a race with no candidates two weeks after Redford announced her resignation.

Lukaszuk was taken aback when told of the mayors remarks about preening feathers at the memorial.

This was the funeral of a very dear friend. And any insinuation that there was anything political about that is simply not reflective of what has happened, the jobs minister said.

Read the original post:
Tories preening feathers for leadership race, Nenshi tells committee