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“I was asked whether I thought he understood what was going on with Kinder Morgan — I honestly don’t,” he told reporters.

The former federal Conservative cabinet minister said he had enormous respect for the vast majority of his parliamentary colleagues in Ottawa. “But I’m not going to cover for a prime minister who is allowing this attack on our vital economic interests.”

Kenney has repeatedly promised civility during debate in the provincial legislature.

“I and our caucus will raise the bar of civility and decorum in the legislature, and in the course of the next 16 months before the next election,” Kenney told supporters in a January speech after he was sworn in as an MLA.

He has also complained about heckling in the legislature, arguing question period has devolved into “a ping-pong match of insults and partisan attacks.”

Revealing his ‘personal grudge’

Government house leader Brian Mason said Kenney has been “Mr. Civility” in the house, but it’s a pose.

“I know what that caucus is really like,” Mason told reporters. “I think he’s let the mask drop a bit here and revealed his own personal grudge.”

Whether he likes Trudeau or not, someone who wants to be premier shouldn’t use derogatory language toward the prime minister, Mason said, adding building relationships with people across the aisle is part of the job.

Mason said Kenney is out of touch with Albertans.

“When he was in Ottawa, he may have had finger bowls and cocktail napkins, but ordinary people don’t have those things and he needs to remember that,” he said.

cclancy@postmedia.com

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