jason kenney hired as senior adviser for calgary tech company
former premier jason kenney has emerged from a nine-mon...
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former alberta premier jason kenney, a senior advisor for tech company eventcombo talks with guests during the announcement of eventcombo's move to set up offices in calgary on july 5.
gavin young/postmedia
former premier jason kenney has emerged from a nine-month hiatus as a new voice for calgary’s tech industry. after spending 25 years in federal or provincial office, kenney exited politics for the private sector, charting a new path. he has now landed as a senior adviser for eventcombo, an online platform that helps manage and promote events in alberta and throughout north america.
the role is not completely foreign for kenney, who looked relaxed and arguably more comfortable in front of the media than he has in years at eventcombo’s announcement on wednesday that it is relocating its headquarters to downtown calgary.
“in my government, political life, i was always a huge advocate for private enterprise, for business, for innovation and entrepreneurship — and now i get to do it,” he said. “i love the creativity and the energy that entrepreneurs bring. i want to be part of that. i think eventcombo is a good example. and also, i get a little bit more like a normal life with the odd evening and weekend off, which is a big bonus.”
as a senior adviser, he will provide strategic advice and connections to eventcombo for the alberta business community as well as the broader canadian market.
tech is a new industry for the former premier, but he has made ample connections throughout his many years in politics.
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kenney hasn’t been idle since stepping down as premier in october after receiving just 51.4 per cent approval from ucp members in may 2022. he stayed on as premier until danielle smith was sworn in. he has continued to advocate in a number of roles for the alberta business community and in april was elected to the atco board of directors.
he said alberta’s economy is fertile ground for transitioning and diversification due to steps his government took to expedite the process by cutting taxes and red tape, as well as reforming immigration and selling canada and the world on the alberta advantage. he pointed to successes in the growth of calgary’s tech sector, the booming film and television sector, and in manufacturing, with investments in dow chemicals’ $14-billion project near edmonton.
kenney noted he would like to see immigration opened further to better supply the talent pool in alberta to meet demands of the labour force.
“most people in the world would love to come to canada,” he said. “we have to be selective and we should focus on people who are going to bring an extra punch to the canadian economy in terms of their growth potential. i support that program. and, in fact, i would go further and do what britain’s just announced and accept anybody who has a graduate degree from, let’s say, the top 50 universities in the world, because that kind of brain power is what will fuel the future economy.”
