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CALGARY — Jason Kenney is the new leader of Alberta’s Progressive Conservatives.

Kenney, 48, captured 1,113 of 1,476 votes cast in the party’s first delegated convention since 1985.

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Richard Starke, a sitting PC legislature member, was second with 323 votes. Longtime party member Byron Nelson was a distant third, with 40 votes.

“Today, it’s springtime in Alberta,” Kenney proclaimed after the results were revealed.

“This result sends a message to our fellow Albertans who are struggling, to those 200,000 Albertans who are looking for work, we are going to ensure there is a government on your side.”

Kenney will now begin the next phase of his unite-the-right campaign by seeking a deal with the Wildrose party to join forces under a new conservative banner.

Under Alberta rules, political parties cannot merge. Rather, they must fold up shop and surrender their assets before seeking to create a new party.