'I don't need this job': Kenney says he has to stay to keep 'lunatics' from 'trying to take over the asylum'

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney was speaking to his party's caucus staff on Tuesday when he told them how close he came to stepping back from his job ahead of the upcoming leadership review. 

"What's the easiest path for me? Just to take a walk. I don't need this job. I could go to the private sector, have my evenings, weekends off," the premier told the gathering.

The remarks are contained in an audio file secretly recorded by someone in attendance and obtained by CBC News. 

Kenney then pivots to why he decided to fight to remain in charge of the United Conservative Party (UCP). The leadership review is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks by mail-in ballot after the party board made a last-minute switch from in-person voting because of unprecedented registration numbers. 

"I thought a lot about it, honestly, before Christmas, and I decided that would be grossly irresponsible because if we were to have a leadership election in this context, it would, I think, permanently divide us [and] hand the NDP the next election." 

That context, Kenney explained, is the co-ordinated surge of organization from factions of the party he says subscribe to conspiracy theories, COVID denial and general angry sentiments — many of whom also want him replaced. 

"I don't say this stuff publicly, these are just kooky people generally," he told staff, thanking them for their efforts to motivate "mainstream conservatives" to support him.

"Preston Manning used to say that a bright light attracts a few bugs, well, there's more than a few bugs attracted to us, this party, right now."

CBC News asked the premier's office for comment on and confirmation of the contents of the five-minute recording.

"The comments made by the premier to staff are consistent with previous public statements on this matter," read the response, in its entirety, from Kenney's press secretary. 

On Wednesday, the UCP president announced the party board had voted to change the format of the review to mail-in ballots, after the number of registered voters surged far beyond expectations.

The announcement triggered accusations of cheating, faulty memberships and new questions about the validity of the results little more than two weeks in advance of the scheduled vote.

While Kenney's campaign applauded the move, newly elected MLA and long-time Kenney rival Brian Jean said changing the UCP leadership review is a "formula for fraud and cheating."

The party president had originally been firm that an in-person event was the only way to ensure the integrity of the vote.