Former Alberta premier Jason Kenney says he is no longer willing to remain silent after a massive Alberta voter information leak exposed the personal details of nearly three million residents, including his own.
Speaking in an interview with CTV’s Question Period, Kenney said he believes legal action and meaningful consequences are necessary following the alleged misuse of Alberta voter data connected to separatist activists.
“Personally, I’m tired of being a punching bag for that crowd, and I think there needs to be consequences,” Kenney said.
The controversy erupted after Elections Alberta confirmed it was investigating the inappropriate distribution of voter information that reportedly included names, addresses and phone numbers of millions of Albertans.
The data was allegedly published online by the Centurion Project, a separatist group linked to Alberta independence activism.
Kenney said he immediately became concerned when the breach became public due to repeated threats he has allegedly received from individuals connected to the movement.
“That group started basically as an anti-vax, convoy-adjacent movement back in 2021, and there’s some pretty highly caffeinated people there,” Kenney said, adding he has since taken additional security precautions.
He also warned that the issue extends far beyond politics and poses serious safety concerns for ordinary Albertans.
“Think about vulnerable women, victims of domestic violence, whose perpetrators can now more easily find out where they’re living,” Kenney said.
The controversy deepened further after the Alberta New Democratic Party claimed it had obtained video footage showing members of the Centurion Project displaying Kenney’s personal information during an online meeting attended by staff connected to the governing United Conservative Party.
Kenney described the act as deliberate intimidation.
“It wasn’t arbitrary. It was a very deliberate message being sent,” he said.
David Parker, a key organizer associated with the Centurion Project, denied wrongdoing and insisted there had been no data breach. Parker said the group had relied on information provided by a third party and would cooperate with the Elections Alberta investigation.
Meanwhile, the incident has reignited concerns over Alberta separatist sentiment as organizers push for a possible referendum on independence later this year.
Kenney said Canadians outside Alberta are underestimating the frustration many Albertans feel regarding federal policies, energy issues and Western alienation.
“I would encourage my fellow Canadians across the country to try to understand Alberta’s frustration,” he said.
However, Kenney strongly rejected separation as a solution and urged federalist leaders to speak out more forcefully against the movement.
He specifically pointed to Pierre Poilievre as someone uniquely positioned to defend Canadian unity because of his strong Alberta ties and support in the province.
“To his credit, he ran in rural Alberta on a very clear federalist platform and won overwhelmingly,” Kenney said.
Kenney added that it is time for political leaders across Canada to directly challenge separatist narratives instead of assuming the issue will disappear on its own.
Investigations into the voter data leak are currently underway involving Elections Alberta, the RCMP and Alberta’s privacy commissioner.