Somebody has to read the riot act to the prime minister. Somebody has to go after him.

Almost everyone agrees, he justly deserves it. And we can’t wait for Premier Notley.

Enter United Conservative leader Jason Kenney.

Boy, does he goes after Trudeau.

Earlier this week as Trudeau was on his way to Alberta to offer up sweet tweet on restarting the Trans Mountain pipeline, a local newshound asks him a question.

What keeps the prime minister up at night?

“There’s a simplification and a dumbing-down of politics and a polarization and a fearful populism that really does worry me,” answers the apparently not dumbed-down Trudeau.

Kenney fires back. He’s known to have spoken a few well-chosen words in the past to describe the prime minister.

“If Justin Trudeau is concerned about the dumbing-down of politics, that gives new meaning to irony,” says the UCP leader.

Kenney chuckles.

“He’s Object Lesson One in the dumbing-down of politics.”

Ouch.

“Like I’ve said to you before, I really don’t think he understands these issues.”

“He schleps out here to Alberta to pat us on the head, says some condescending words while screwing us over with a five-year extension on equalization and threats to impose a federal carbon tax even after we Albertans scrap our own Alberta carbon tax.”

There’s more.

“Vetoing every other pipeline, killing future pipelines with a new law.”

Don’t forget phasing out the oilsands.

But the PM is worried about a “simplification” of politics. He does like the word “complex.”

Kenney throws one more before the end of round one.

“As Justin once said: We need to change our concepts of time and space, so I guess he really is a master of complexity.”

Kenney believes Trudeau isn’t losing sleep in these days of much tossing and turning over the stalled pipeline.

“I think he’s got us right where he wants us. He’s the guy who dug us into this ditch.”

For Kenney, Trudeau is no supporter of pipelines or the oilpatch or those who want to invest.

“We’re reaping the whirlwind. We’re reaping that harvest,” says Kenney.

“This is his making. This is his policy. He almost seems giddy about it. He’s basically surrendered to the B.C. New Democrats on Trans Mountain.”

So does Kenney think the pipeline expansion to the west coast will be built?

Kenney is quick to answer.

“Not as long as Justin Trudeau is prime minister.”

If what he’s saying is true, what does the United Conservative leader think Albertans should do?

“We need folks to create a grassroots army that sweeps these two governments out of power next year. It’s not going to happen by itself,” says Kenney.

“If you’re upset with Trudeau happy-talking this body blow to our economy, don’t get mad, get even at the ballot box.”

Of course, the second government he’s talking about is the Notley NDP, the junior member of the Trudeau-Notley tag team.

Kenney asks if Albertans think the province would have an NDP government even pretending to support the oilpatch without a strong, united free-enterprise alternative putting on the pressure.

It is then the leader of the opposition says the well-bankrolled greenies will be gunning for the United Conservatives in next spring’s Alberta election.

“All of the special interests from the green left that helped elect Trudeau are now coming to Alberta to re-elect the NDP,” he says.

“The Tides Foundation and LeadNow and all the rest of these left-wing, astroturf groups are landing in Alberta to rev-up a pro-NDP campaign.

“And they’re not doing it because they think the NDP is really committed to pipelines. They want to stop us from electing a conservative government. Don’t let them get away with it.”

In these trying times and a world away, the Trudeau government is busy dealing with the challenges in the oil and gas business.

You see, they say Canada’s energy industry is “gender-imbalanced.”

Women make up 24% of the workforce.

The Trudeau government wants to influence the oilpatch to commit to “meaningful action in the area of gender equality.”

“The government of Canada is committed to addressing the gender imbalance in our energy sector,” says a statement coughed up by Team Trudeau.

Aren’t you glad Trudeau, the supposed fighter against dumbed-down politicians, is so smart he makes this a priority?

rbell@postmedia.com