Latest news with #RachelNotley
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Husband of ex-premier questions why Smith's spouse sitting in on Alberta gov't meetings
NDP leader Rachel Notley and her husband Lou Arab arrive for the leaders debate in Edmonton, Alberta, April 23, CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson The husband of a former Alberta premier is questioning why Premier Danielle Smith invited her husband to sit in on government meetings. Lou Arab, husband to former premier Rachel Notley, in a social media post took issue with Smith's recent comments saying there is nothing wrong with her husband David Moretta sitting in on meetings discussing government rail projects. 'Danielle Smith is full of it,' wrote Arab, a longtime senior communications official with the Canadian Union of Public Employees. 'I was not actually allowed to lobby any minister on any subject whatsoever.' The Tyee, an online news outlet, first reported last summer that Moretta was invited to attend a 2023 government meeting, but this week the CBC reported that Moretta was invited to two additional rail-related meetings later that fall, including a meeting about a proposed multibillion-dollar rail project that the proponents were to attend. The project, an unsolicited proposal submitted to government in 2021 by consortium Liricon-Plenary, would see a passenger rail service connecting Calgary to Banff. Smith and her office have defended her choice to include Moretta in the meetings, saying his past career in media and general interest in rail gives him subject matter expertise and valuable knowledge to share. 'My husband's an adviser to me, and that's allowed because he's married to me,' Smith said at an unrelated press conference in June. 'I can ask for his advice on anything I choose.' At the same press conference, Smith credited Moretta for playing a role in the province deciding to launch a new feasibility study for passenger rail across the province as well as undertaking a new rail master plan expected to be finished sometime this year. 'I asked for his advice as we had a multitude of different projects coming forward,' Smith said at the press conference. 'What we learned was that if any one of these projects went ahead without integrating, it might preclude the other ones from going ahead.' Arab, in his social media post, said that when Notley was premier he was barred from offering his own subject matter expertise to the government his wife led. 'When Rachel was premier, despite my having two decades of professional experience in labour relations, I was not allowed within 10 light years of setting labour policy,' Arab said. 'That wasn't just good ethics, that was the law.' In a statement Tuesday, Smith's press secretary said Arab was rightfully separated from decision-making considering Arab's employer had 'direct and indirect ties' to government operations. 'Unlike Mr. Arab's example, Mr. Moretta's employment is in no way related to this subject matter,' Sam Blackett said. 'He has never lobbied on behalf of any entity (rail related or otherwise) at any time and has absolutely no connection to any lobbying firm. 'Any claim or insinuation to the contrary is defamatory.' Opposition NDP justice critic Irfan Sabir said in an interview Tuesday that regardless of expertise, experience or lobbiest status the premier's husband shouldn't be anywhere close to government. 'This shouldn't be difficult,' Sabir said, adding that if Smith needed advice on rail projects she could've hired someone. 'You might be able to find a better adviser who can advise you on these projects without any conflict.' Arab, who didn't respond to an interview request Tuesday, has raised concerns about Moretta's access to government before, as has Smith's former United Conservative caucus member and infrastructure minister Peter Guthrie. Guthrie drew the ire of Smith and other members of her front bench in a heated question period exchange in May when he asked the premier about the appropriateness of Moretta's meeting attendance and his engagement with government officials. Guthrie, who asked if Moretta's 'efforts' crossed a line and gave him 'undue influence over government policy and spending,' also told the assembly that as minister he had declined a meeting he was invited to attend that would've involved Moretta. 'I've been tired of the rumours and innuendo and slander against my family that I have been hearing about for months,' Smith said in response to Guthrie's questions. 'He has never ever been registered as a lobbyist because he has never ever lobbied any government, including ours, and I would ask for the innuendo and the slander to stop.' In another social media post commenting on the exchange, Arab said he 'couldn't so much as write a letter to a minister asking for a meeting.' 'I don't know if the rules have changed since then, but there is no way in hell I'd have been able to ask ministers to meet with the local Girl Guide troop let alone a group of businessmen trying to build a railroad.' By Jack Farrell, The Canadian Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
National Post
24-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Naheed Nenshi returns to Alberta's legislature, NDP wins two of three byelections
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has won a seat in the legislature after a year of sitting on the sidelines. Article content He held Edmonton-Strathcona for the New Democrats in one of three provincial byelections Monday night, replacing former premier Rachel Notley in the party stronghold. Article content 'It means I get a parking spot at the legislature. But in reality, I think I've been doing this job for a whole year, and I'm just really grateful for the people of Edmonton-Strathcona to put us up on the next step,' he told reporters in Edmonton Monday night. Article content 'It was a three-step process: win the leadership, get a seat in the house, and now we win the general election,' he said. Article content 'I look forward to constructive debate and, above all, working to advance Alberta's interests: growing our economy, building critical infrastructure, and securing a stronger future for all Albertans,' she wrote on X. Article content Nenshi will face off with the premier in the legislature's question period when the house reconvenes in the fall. Article content 'It will be a little fun for me to be able to stand toe-to-toe with the premier,' said Nenshi. Article content Article content His NDP also declared victory in Edmonton-Ellerslie, where the party's candidate, Gurtej Singh Brar, came in ahead of United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj by over 1,000 votes. Article content Thank you, Edmonton-Ellerslie, for putting your trust in me. I'm grateful to everyone who welcomed me, shared their stories, and supported our campaign. Today, SE Edmonton sent a strong message to Danielle Smith and the UCP. I look forward to being your voice in the Legislature. — Gurtej Singh Brar (@gsinghbrar_yeg) June 24, 2025
Globe and Mail
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Globe and Mail
Alberta NDP Leader Nenshi wins seat in one of three byelections
Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has held Edmonton-Strathcona for the New Democrats in one of three provincial byelections. Unofficial results from Elections Alberta put him well ahead of the nearest competitor, United Conservative Party candidate Darby Crouch. The NDP was also leading in Edmonton-Ellerslie where the party's candidate, Gurtej Singh Brar, was ahead of United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj by over 500 votes, with 46 of 55 polls reporting. The United Conservatives' Tara Sawyer won Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, where the third byelection was being held. Speaking to supporters at an Edmonton hotel, Nenshi said voters sent a clear message that the UCP 'doesn't have a plan for a better future, but Alberta's New Democrats do.' Nenshi has spent a year of sitting on the sidelines after winning the party's leadership race, and Edmonton-Strathcona was the seat held by former party leader and premier Rachel Notley.
Global News
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Alberta voters to decide if NDP's Nenshi, separatists to hold legislature seats
Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is looking to finally win a seat in the legislature after a year of sitting on the sidelines. He's running in one of three provincial byelections today as a candidate in Edmonton-Strathcona, where his predecessor Rachel Notley last won 80 per cent of the vote. In Edmonton-Ellerslie, NDP candidate Gurtej Singh Brar could solidify the opposition party's hold on the city, but United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj is hoping to make an inroad. In rural central Alberta, the separatist Republican Party of Alberta is aiming to capitalize on discontent with Ottawa. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Republican leader Cameron Davies has been campaigning in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills against the UCP's Tara Sawyer, the NDP's Bev Toews and Bill Tufts of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition. The seat became vacant after former legislature speaker and long-time UCP member of the legislature Nathan Cooper resigned to take a post as Alberta's representative in Washington, D.C. Story continues below advertisement 1:56 Alberta voters to decide if NDP's Nenshi, separatists to hold legislature seats Also vying for the Edmonton-Strathcona seat are UCP candidate Darby Crouch, Republican Ravina Chand, Samuel Petrov of the Alberta Party, Liberal Don Slater and Wildrose Loyalty Coalition candidate Jesse Stretch. Candidates in Edmonton-Ellerslie include Caroline Currie of the Alberta Party, Pamela Henson from the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition, Fred Munn of the Republican Party and Liberal Manpreet Tiwana. The south-Edmonton riding had been represented by Rod Loyola under the NDP banner until he resigned to run in the federal election.
Winnipeg Free Press
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Alberta voters to decide today if NDP's Nenshi, separatists to hold legislature seats
EDMONTON – Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is looking to finally win a seat in the legislature after a year of sitting on the sidelines. He's running in one of three provincial byelections today as a candidate in Edmonton-Strathcona, where his predecessor Rachel Notley last won 80 per cent of the vote. In Edmonton-Ellerslie, NDP candidate Gurtej Singh Brar could solidify the opposition party's hold on the city, but United Conservative Party candidate Naresh Bhardwaj is hoping to make an inroad. In rural central Alberta, the separatist Republican Party of Alberta is aiming to capitalize on discontent with Ottawa. Republican leader Cameron Davies has been campaigning in Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills against the UCP's Tara Sawyer, the NDP's Bev Toews and Bill Tufts of the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition. The seat became vacant after former legislature speaker and long-time UCP member of the legislature Nathan Cooper resigned to take a post as Alberta's representative in Washington, D.C. Also vying for the Edmonton-Strathcona seat are UCP candidate Darby Crouch, Republican Ravina Chand, Samuel Petrov of the Alberta Party, Liberal Don Slater and Wildrose Loyalty Coalition candidate Jesse Stretch. Candidates in Edmonton-Ellerslie include Caroline Currie of the Alberta Party, Pamela Henson from the Wildrose Loyalty Coalition, Fred Munn of the Republican Party and Liberal Manpreet Tiwana. The south-Edmonton riding had been represented by Rod Loyola under the NDP banner until he resigned to run in the federal election. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 23, 2025.
