The Alberta Prosperity Project (APP) is clapping back at recent allegations of racism and homophobia from United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership candidate Leela Aheer, saying she’s following in the footsteps of Premier Jason Kenney — and that she’s likely to lose her seat in the next election.
Last week, Aheer accused fellow leadership candidates partaking in the upcoming APP and Rebel News leadership forum and fundraiser of being responsible for “white supremacy, homophobia and racism.”
Aheer’s vitriol emanates directly from Kenney’s playbook who similarly mischaracterized opponents of his Premiership in March, said APP president Dennis Modry.
“Both Ms. Aheer and Mr. Kenney have failed to understand that their poor performance, lack of integrity, lying, and spineless failure to stand up for Albertans have been at the root of the APP movement,” he said in a statement.
APP advocates for Alberta freedom and prosperity through independence.
Leadership candidates Travis Toews and Rebecca Schulz initially agreed to participate in the organization’s forum, but withdrew last week citing the event’s fundraising efforts “in support of a third-party advocacy group that supports an independent Alberta.”
Aheer took to Twitter to criticize those still participating, which includes candidates Danielle Smith, Todd Loewen and Brian Jean
“White supremacy, homophobia & racism have been supported & encouraged for too long in politics,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Anyone participating in the Prosperity Project / Rebel Media Debate, should be held accountable for supporting this toxic culture.”
Modry said Aheer is lashing out at thoughtful people and her “slanderous comments’ and “supercilious tone” is beneath the dignity of anyone seeking public office.
“But since she knows that she will never ascend to the Premiership and is likely to lose her seat in the next election, it is understandable that she has become the ‘woke’ attack dog,” he said.
“Should we be surprised that Ms. Aheer has such appalling cognitive dissonance and lack of decorum? Of course not, she is at the highest echelon of cancel culture and isolated socialist ideology, from which she refuses to be educated.”
Modry also said Aheer’s “misguided defamatory comments” insulted the APP’s hundreds of thousands members including moms, dads, grandparents, teenagers, first Nations, Metis, and multi-ethnic members and genders.
Aheer owes an apology to Albertans who value their individual freedoms, rights, and prosperity “but I question whether she has the class (to) do so,” Modry said.
Rebel News did not respond to Aheer’s claims, but reposted videos of Rebel News reporter Adam Soos interviewing Aheer following the first UCP leadership debate in Medicine Hat last month
In response, Aheer retweeted the videos and said “Thank you for sharing this!!”
The APP and Rebel News leadership forum will be held on Thursday in Edmonton.
