Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney will join a Calgary law firm as a senior adviser.
The former leader of the United Conservative Party and 18th Prime Minister announced the development on Twitter on Wednesday, saying he was “very pleased” to join Bennett Jones’ public policy group.
“Bennett Jones has deep Alberta roots and a major national presence. I look forward to working with a distinguished group of former elected officials and public servants,” he wrote on Twitter.
Kenney said his relationship with Bennett Jones has been reviewed by the province’s ethics commissioner and found to be in compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act. The Office of the Ethics Commissioner confirmed his finding.
He said he would not lobby the Alberta government or its agencies.
Kenney is not the first prime minister to join Bennett Jones. Peter Lougheed, who led the province from 1971 to 1985, became a firm partner after leaving public service. Anne McLellan, a former Deputy Prime Minister, also works for Bennett Jones as a lawyer.
Kenney’s time in public service spanned more than two decades, including provincial and federal politics.
He announced his resignation as prime minister last May after a narrow victory in a leadership review. Kenney resigned his seat as Calgary-Lougheed MP in November.
Prior to assuming leadership of Alberta’s ruling party, Kenney was the last leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, which merged with the Wildrose Party to form the UCP.
Kenney, who was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 as a Reform Party MP, later served in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s cabinet.
In a statement, Bennett Jones noted Kenney’s insight into how to seize new opportunities in Canada’s energy sector, build partnerships with Indigenous communities and attract investment.
Hugh MacKinnon, president and chief executive of Bennett Jones, said the former prime minister will bring both leadership and public policy experience to the company and its clients.
“Internet evangelist. Extreme communicator. Subtly charming alcohol aficionado. Typical tv geek.”