Alberta UCP welcomes MLA who compared transgender kids to feces back into caucus

An Alberta MLA who was expelled from the United Conservative Party caucus last year for comparing transgender children to feces has been reinstated after issuing a public apology and pledging to support inclusivity.

Lacombe–Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson said she has grown “personally and professionally” since being removed from caucus 17 months ago. “Now, I am eager to apply what I have learned to benefit everyone who calls this province home,” Johnson said in a statement released Friday.

Johnson was removed from the UCP in 2023 after a 2022 recording surfaced in which she compared transgender youth to “a batch of cookies with a little bit of poop.” She has since sat as an independent member of the legislature.

At the time, Premier Danielle Smith said Johnson would not be welcome back, but later suggested she could return if she demonstrated a genuine effort to educate herself on gender identity issues.

In a video posted to the UCP’s social media pages, Johnson apologized for her comments and said she now wants to ensure all Alberta children feel valued and respected. “Prior to being elected, I used an inappropriate analogy discussing education policy surrounding trans youth. And for that, I sincerely apologize,” she said.

Her reinstatement comes amid ongoing political debate in Alberta over gender identity policies and education rights, issues that have drawn national attention in recent months.