Sohi wants Edmonton voices heard at provincial level after UCP shut out from capital city
Posted May 31, 2023 10:31 am.
Last Updated May 31, 2023 10:57 am.
Mayor Amarjeet Sohi is hoping to meet Premier-elect Danielle Smith soon to talk about representation for Edmonton, after the victorious United Conservative Party was shut out of Alberta’s capital.
“A million people in our city will not have a direct voice in the cabinet. So how do we create opportunities?” said Sohi.
“Many Edmontonians remain dissatisfied with the provincial government, and the results are quite evident.”
Edmonton’s lack of UCP representation is not new. The UCP’s only Edmonton MLA from 2019 was Kaycee Madu, who lost his seat in Edmonton-South West Monday to the NDP’s Nathan Ip.
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Smith did vow to work for all Albertans in her victory speech Monday, including those who did not vote for her party.
“And though I didn’t do enough in your judgement to win your support in this election, I will work every day to listen, to improve and demonstrate that I can be trusted to improve on the issues that you care so much about,” she said.
Sohi says he intends to hold Smith to her word.
Edmonton’s mayor @AmarjeetSohiYEG says he hopes the UCP shut out in our city is seen as an opportunity to work on #yegcc and #abpoli relationships, knowing there will be no #YEG voice in caucus of cabinet. Says he will continue to highlight data of what is needed. https://t.co/mi7fayp023 pic.twitter.com/7rR5x7sfJB
— Carly Robinson (@CarlyDRobinson) May 30, 2023
Senior consultant Christine Myatt says historically the United Conservative Party has failed to attract large support in Edmonton.
“It is difficult for conservatives to break through in Edmonton,” said Myatt with New West Public Affairs. “Ed Stelmach did in 2008 so it can be done, but the UCP has some really hard work ahead of them.”
Stelmach was the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, which merged into the UCP. Stelmach won a 72-seat majority that year, including five seats in Edmonton itself and all of its suburbs.
Myatt says appointing someone from the greater Edmonton area to cabinet is a must.
She adds the UCP – having also lost a number of seats in Calgary – can help bridge the rural-urban divide by “buddying up” MLAs with ridings the UCP lost. That can include door knocking and going to events.
“No only is it going to help the United Conservatives Party internally understand what urban Albertans care about, and what their issues are, it’s going to help the UCP make inroads in these urban centres in the next election,” said Myatt. “They have a lot of work to do to convince urban Albertans that they are broad mainstream party that reflects their values.”
Myatt also believes meetings between the province and Edmonton’s city hall can help bridge the gap.
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Edmonton’s’ mayor says homelessness, mental health and addictions supports, and housing are key areas to work together. And he’s ready to bring out data on historic funding discrepancies if Edmonton falls behind.
“One-third of the shelter capacity in other cities compared to Calgary,” Sohi said, adding he’ll keep an eye out for any potential funding similar to the Calgary arena deal.
