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Leela Aheer was standing in the middle of a rapidly-emptying convention centre, still digesting the results of her party’s first ever leadership vote, when she got word that the winner wanted to speak to her.

A little bewildered, she agreed, and they set up a meeting. The next day, Jason Kenney, the newly-elected leader of the United Conservative Party, was at Aheer’s house. He had taken a look at his new caucus and realized he needed her help to fix a major problem.

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“I inherited 27 guys and two women, which is ridiculous,” Kenney told the National Post in a recent interview. “We don’t believe in quotas but, by gosh, we need to do a better job of reflecting diversity by merit. I’ve been a bit obsessive about this, to be honest.”

The MLA for Chestermere-Rocky View, Aheer had supported Brian Jean in the leadership race, her former leader in the Wildrose Party and Kenney’s main rival. Even in the whiplash world of politics, where people go from frenzied combat to smiling conciliation in a matter of days, Kenney’s gesture surprised her.