UCP leader Jason Kenney is on the defence over comments made about the Airdrie –Cochrane riding candidate during a Thursday night UCP fundraiser at the GlenEagles golf course.

Kenney was captured in a 45-second Instagram video clip taking a shot at NDP candidate Steve Durrell.

Kenney is heard to say: “The NDP acclaimed their star candidate to take on Peter Guthrie, a [sic] 19-year-old [laughter].”

Just down the hill at the Frank Wills Memorial Hall that same evening, Durrell, who is 29, married and has three children, was named the NDP candidate for the riding.

After the video was brought to Durrell's attention Friday afternoon. Shocked, he responded by tweeting:

"Jason Kenney called me a 19-year-old last night  - as an insult I guess?

1) I’m 29

2) That’s the age he was when he was first elected

3) I’ll take young people getting active in politics over the #OldBoysClub any day 
 
The NDP was quick to respond, including Cam Westhead.

“Kenney’s blunder has been viewed by nearly 90,000 people in just 24 hours. I get that your job is to run interference and try to change the channel, but maybe a sincere apology from your leader would have been a more effective anti-viral antidote,” Westhead tweeted.

The UCP has stated Kenney was misinformed of Durrell's age and that no disrespect was intended.