Article content

Jason Kenney the statesman, or Jason Kenney the pugilist.

In the few days since his big triumph in the provincial election, Alberta’s next premier has donned the attire of both kinds of leader, leaving many to wonder what to expect from the next four years.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Keith Gerein: Jason Kenney, statesman or pugilist? Back to video

On election night in Calgary, it was the pugnacious Kenney on display, delivering a strangely angry victory speech in which he pledged to play hardball with anyone who gets in Alberta’s way — whether that be politicians, environmentalists, corporations or journalists.

But back in Edmonton the following day, speaking with the legislature dome as his backdrop, it was a much more conciliatory Kenney who took the podium to talk about his political rivals.

As for his chief opponent, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a man he has pledged to help defeat this fall, Kenney reported having a “respectful conversation.”

In regards to Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who has dismissed the prospect of new pipelines though his province as unacceptable, Kenney said he hoped to start that relationship on “positive footing.”