Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that Jennifer Johnson has been admitted to, not allowed to rejoin, the UCP caucus.
An Alberta MLA who was initially not allowed to join the United Conservative Caucus after comparing transgender children to feces has now been granted admission.
In a statement Wednesday afternoon, the United Conservative Caucus said an internal caucus vote was held and MLAs “chose to welcome Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Jennifer Johnson into the United Conservative Caucus.”
She had been the UCP candidate for her central Alberta riding during last year’s provincial election but upon winning the seat had to sit as an independent, after a 2022 recording surfaced in which Johnson is heard comparing transgender students to feces.
“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 …