The United Conservative Caucus of Alberta has officially reinstated Jennifer Johnson, following a recent controversy involving a heated exchange with a transgender activist.
The party’s announcement came Wednesday afternoon, and the UCP posted a video statement by Johnson on X announcing her return.
The 2023 election result for the Alberta MLA’s riding of Lacombe—Ponoka saw her garner 67.57% of the vote, followed by Dave Dale, the runner-up NDP MLA, who received 23.56% of the vote.
“Today, I want to take a moment to address a serious matter. Prior to being elected, I used an inappropriate analogy while discussing education policy surrounding trans youth, and for that, I sincerely apologize,” said Johnson. “I want all children working through gender identity issues to know that you are cared for, valued and respected.”
She had used an analogy which legacy media outlets claimed was a comparison of feces with transgender students.
Johnson recently attended a meeting with the Lacombe Pride Society, Ponoka Pride Society, Central Alberta Pride Society, and others where one activist attempted to force her to say biological men can be women.
The interaction caught global attention, with J.K. Rowling sharing the clip and Elon Musk reacting to it.
A picture tells a thousand words, and Rowling said, “Honestly, you don’t even need to turn up the sound.”
At the outset of the meeting, Victoria Bucholtz from Queer Citizens United and Queer Momentum asked Johnson, “Will you state on the record right now that trans women are women?”
Johnson didn’t answer. Instead, she asked for more time to think about the question.
Bucholtz did not accept that response. She said the two cannot disagree on the question and still have a discussion.
“I can still care about you even if we disagree,” said Johnson.
However, Johnson didn’t get much time to speak, as the nearly three-minute interaction featured Bucholtz speaking for the majority of the time.
Despite various local pride societies releasing a joint statement slandering Johnson, she did not bend the knee.
Some people celebrated her for not capitulating to the woke mob.
Johnson’s return to caucus follows Conservatives from across the province pleading with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to reinstate her.
In Wednesday’s press release, the party said that Johnson’s reinstatement follows an internal caucus vote.
“Over the past 17 months, MLA Johnson has done a very good job as a local MLA. After having a very thoughtful discussion with our caucus team, our MLAs voted to acknowledge her hard work, recognize her efforts, and welcome her into the government caucus,” Chief Government Whip Shane Getson said.
Johnson had been sitting as an Independent since her removal from the party, but her status as a United Conservative MLA is in effect immediately.