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National Post
5 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Chris Selley: Alberta NDP's divorce from the federal party trainwreck is better for everyone
It did not receive much notice in Central Canada, and if it had, it might have been seen as bad news for the beleaguered federal New Democrats. But the Alberta NDP's recent decision to uncouple somewhat from the federal NDP might actually help drag the national party's proverbial Maserati out of the proverbial ditch where Jagmeet Singh left it in a cloud of steam. Article content Article content Article content As schisms go, it's not what you would call violent: Delegates to the Alberta NDP convention in May voted to end the practice by which taking out a membership in the provincial party automatically came with membership in the federal party. Henceforth, provincial party members can 'opt out' of buying into the totalled Maserati. Article content Article content It could well just be symbolism can matter. The NDP has been unusual in this 'one party' approach. Provincial parties called 'Liberal' aren't necessarily affiliated with the federal Liberals (Quebec's are not and British Columbia's were not, notably) and nor are parties called 'Conservative' or 'Progressive Conservative' necessarily part of the same hive mind, never mind the conservative Saskatchewan Party or Alberta's United Conservative Party. The federal NDP are often described by their detractors as fringe or unbendingly 'ideological.' But they have a plenty big enough tent: Under the orange canvas you could find blue-collar workers, Big Labour, university campuses, the idle progressive urban rich, the urban working class, farmers, North-of-60ers, and, for a while, even Quebec nationalists. Article content Article content For all its radical elements, since its Jack Layton-led era at least, the federal party has usually been capable of sorting out these differences and keeping support at a reasonable level. But at this point there just aren't enough people left under the big tent anymore. On April 28 the campers broke hard and en masse for the parties that might wind up governing, and NDP stalwarts were left congratulating themselves on holding a balance of power with just seven measly seats and no official-party status. Article content Article content The way you get people under your big tent isn't to give them everything they want all the time. Conservatives accept (if grudgingly) that the power within their movement oscillates between (very simplistically speaking) old-guard Tories and more Reform party-influenced people. Less grudgingly, because their party exists for no purpose other than to wield power, Liberals accept that they'll have centre-left/nihilist leaders like Justin Trudeau and dead-centre or even centre-right leaders like Jean Chrétien and Paul Martin.
Calgary Herald
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Alberta NDP launches campaigns for all three byelections
The Alberta NDP is wasting no time after the province called byelections for three constituencies to be held at the end of June, kicking off campaigns on Thursday. Article content Article content Nominations for the races are open until June 5, but the Alberta NDP has already announced candidates for Edmonton-Strathcona, Edmonton-Ellerslie and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Article content Edmonton-Strathcona has been vacant for nearly six months after former premier Rachel Notley stepped down as the constituency's MLA, making room for successor Naheed Nenshi to announce his candidacy for her old constituency. It's been nearly a year since Nenshi was elected as the Alberta NDP leader and, after being out of the legislature for two sittings, he might finally be getting a seat. Article content Article content 'It's time for people to be able to send a message to this government. It is a message that we don't have to settle for what they're doing. We don't have to settle for substandard public services. We don't have to settle for unbridled corruption. We don't have to settle for an incompetent government,' Nenshi said at the Thursday campaign launch. Article content Gurtej Singh Brar, the Alberta NDP candidate for Edmonton-Ellerslie, formerly held by NDP MLA Rod Loyola who stepped down in March to run for the federal Liberals, joined Nenshi at the launch. The former journalist said he's choosing to run to be a voice for Albertans. Article content 'I am a radio and TV host for the last 15 years and I know what people's feelings are, what they actually want from the government. That's not happening right now. That's why I'm here. I want to be their voice,' Brar said. Article content Article content The Alberta NDP have nominated Bev Toews for the Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills constituency, which was previously held by former Alberta Speaker Nathan Cooper who will be the new Alberta representative in Washington. Article content Article content 'Bev Toews is a daughter of Olds. She understands the community. She understands her neighbours. She's been working in schools for over 25 years, working to help local businesses grow, and is just a steward of that community,' Nenshi said. Article content Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced on Monday that byelections for the three constituencies will be held on June 23. Smith previously told reporters she intended to call all three at the same time, despite calls from the Opposition to hold the Edmonton-Strathcona byelection sooner since it had been vacant the longest.
Globe and Mail
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
NDP's Nenshi will get chance to secure Alberta seat as Smith calls three by-elections
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called three by-elections to take place on June 23. The three vacant ridings are Edmonton-Strathcona, Edmonton-Ellerslie and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi will run in Edmonton-Strathcona, which became vacant when former premier Rachel Notley resigned her seat late last year. It'll be Mr. Nenshi's first chance at getting a seat in the legislature since taking the party reins last summer. In an e-mail, NDP executive director Garett Spelliscy criticized Ms. Smith for waiting as long as she did to call Mr. Nenshi's by-election. Ms. Smith, in a statement, said her own candidates are up for the challenge. 'We need strong local leaders who will defend this province and get things done – and that's exactly what our UCP candidates will do,' she said. Facing off against Mr. Nenshi in Edmonton-Strathcona, which has voted NDP in 11 of the past 12 general elections dating back to 1986, will be United Conservative Party candidate Darby Crouch, who has worked as a government press secretary. In a statement Monday, the party described Crouch as a communications professional with experience in public service. Danielle Smith shuffles cabinet, makes major changes to health care roles 'I'm committed to Edmonton-Strathcona and to the people who live here. I'm ready to listen, show up and work hard every day for this community,' Mr. Crouch said. Besides candidates from Alberta's two main parties, Alberta Republican Party Leader Cam Davies is also running in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. A long-time conservative activist and organizer, Mr. Davies has become a key figure in Alberta's renewed separatist movement following last month's federal election. He said Monday that he's going into the by-election with a sense of momentum. 'Albertans are ready for change,' he said. 'They're ready to send a strong message.' Mr. Davies said even if he comes up short of winning, any result will be a sign of growth for the movement. The Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills riding became vacant earlier this month when Nathan Cooper, the former legislature Speaker and a long-time United Conservative representative, resigned to become Alberta's delegate in Washington, D.C. The Premier appointed Tara Sawyer, a farmer and former chair of the Grain Growers of Canada, to run under the United Conservative banner in the riding. The party's statement described Ms. Sawyer as a 'respected rural advocate' who would give farmers a strong voice at the table. The NDP has yet to announce its candidate, but a party spokesperson said one would be announced this week. Edmonton-Ellerslie became vacant in March when third-term NDP member Rod Loyola resigned to run for Mark Carney's Liberals in last month's federal election. The NDP's candidate for the riding is Gurtej Singh Brar. 'With strong local roots and a commitment to public service, he's ready to be a strong representative for Edmonton-Ellerslie in the legislature,' the NDP said earlier this month when Mr. Brar won the candidacy nomination. Facing Mr. Brar will be Naresh Bhardwaj, a former Alberta Progressive Conservative associate cabinet minister, who was first elected under the PC banner in 2008 and was re-elected in 2012. In 2013, then-premier Jim Prentice named Mr. Bhardwaj associate minister of persons with disabilities. He withdrew his candidacy heading into the 2015 election after being accused of bribing another prospective Progressive Conservative candidate not to run against him for the nomination. The party cleared him of any wrongdoing after an internal investigation, and the Edmonton Police Service closed its own investigation that fall without laying any charges.
Epoch Times
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Alberta NDP to End Automatic Membership With Federal Party, Leader Nenshi Gets 89.5% Leadership Support
A majority of delegates at the Alberta NDP convention in Edmonton on Saturday voted to end the party's automatic membership ties to its federal counterpart. Their leader, Naheed Nenshi, also received nearly 90 percent support in his first leadership review. More than While some two or three dozen strongly opposed the change, the outcome was in line with the The vote to amend party affiliation came shortly after members cast their ballots, giving Nenshi 89.5 percent support in his first leadership review—surpassing the Prior to the leadership review vote, Nenshi addressed the charged-up crowd with a The move to decouple the provincial NDP from the federal brand was spearheaded by Nenshi, who Related Stories 12/26/2024 6/30/2024 Before the vote on Saturday, the NDP was the only party where both the provincial and federal branches were officially affiliated. This meant someone registered as an Alberta NDP member automatically became registered with the federal party as well. With the motion passed, Alberta NDP members now have the option to choose if they want to be affiliated solely with the provincial party or with both NDP branches. Speaking to reporters at the convention, Nenshi said the longstanding tradition of signing up members to the federal party was a turnoff for some potential voters and members. He said supporters had expressed concerns to him while he went knocking on doors during his latest leadership campaign. 'I did have to answer that question a lot. 'Am I automatically a member of the federal party?' And now we can say, 'You can choose,'' Nenshi With that strong support to change the status quo, Nenshi said the approval would allow him to build a bigger tent for Alberta's NDP. 'I've heard from so many people who want to join our movement. Listen, I love the Alberta New Democrats, but I vote a different way federally, and today, the party decided overwhelmingly that we will welcome those people into our movement,' he Opposition Some of the delegates who opposed the motion argued that separating from the national branch would undermine the New Democrats' unity. One delegate commented that the Alberta government, under Premier Danielle Smith of the United Conservative Party, would continue to jab at Nenshi's NDP for having ties with its federal counterpart no matter what measures it took to 'sever' the relationship. Speaking in the Alberta legislative assembly on May 1, Premier Smith Before the federal election on April 28, the federal NDP, led by Jagmeet Singh, Singh had 'We are united in our goals to take on Conservatives, to bring forward a clear vision for a government that works for people,' Singh said in June 2024, adding that the best way to achieve the goal of bringing down the competition was by being united. The NDP in Alberta had attempted at various times in the past to distance itself from the federal party on certain policy issues, particularly on matters related to the oil and gas sector. Former Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley and Singh were on opposite sides of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion decision, with Notley in favour of the project and Singh opposed. Notley, however, showed allegiance to her federal counterpart when she Chandra Philip and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Both major parties confirm nominations for undated Edmonton-Ellerslie by-election
From left to right: undated photos of Naresh Bhardwaj, the United Conservative Party's nomination for Edmonton-Ellerslie, and Gurtej Singh Brar, the Alberta New Democratic Party's nomination for Edmonton-Ellerslie. (Source: United Conservative Party and Alberta New Democratic Party)
