Outcome of Tuesday's byelection a lose-lose for Alberta premier, political scientists say

Political pundits say there will be one clear loser in Tuesday’s byelection in northern Alberta, but it won’t be any of the candidates.

No matter the final tally in Fort McMurray-Lac La Biche, they say, Premier Jason Kenney faces an unfavourable outcome since the constituency’s three main contenders all oppose his leadership.

Lori Williams, a political scientist at Mount Royal University in Calgary, says she expects longtime politician Brian Jean to win the seat for the United Conservative Party.

“His whole candidacy is about removing [Kenney] as leader of the party,” says Williams. “There will be a certain number of UCP members