Independent legislature member Loewen enters Alberta UCP leadership race

The first United Conservative backbencher to publicly call for Premier Jason Kenney to quit is now running to replace him as party leader and premier.

Todd Loewen announced in a Facebook post that he has registered with Elections Alberta to run, and says he will have a formal announcement next week.

Loewen made headlines more than a year ago when he published a letter resigning as caucus chair and called on Kenney to quit.

He said Kenney had lost the confidence to lead, citing weak dealings with Ottawa, ignoring caucus members, delivering contradictory messages, and botching critical issues such as negotiations with doctors and controversy over coal mining on the eastern slopes of the Rockies.

Hours later, Loewen and fellow Kenney critic Drew Barnes were voted out of the UCP caucus and now sit in the house as Independents.

There are now four contestants in the race: former Finance Minster Travis Toews, and former Wildrose leaders Brian Jean and Danielle Smith.