Voting for new Alberta NDP leader kicks off Monday

Voting begins Monday for members of the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) to choose a new leader.

The final debate of the leadership race was held Sunday, and now the four remaining candidate will begin door knocking looking to persuade party members in our city who might still be on the fence.

The city has been increasing in battleground status in more recent provincial election campaigns. Last spring, the NDP won 14 of the Calgary area’s 26 ridings.

Party insiders point to former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi joining the race, which led to a spike in new members.

After he joined the race to replace Rachel Notley, membership swelled to more than 85,000 members in the span of a week, 46 per cent of which call Calgary home.

Perceived frontrunner Nenshi says there is a lot at stake.

My job is just to keep running the next three weeks as I’ve run the last four months — get out to as many people as we can, but with the additional piece of helping people, making sure they know how and when to vote,” he said.

READ MORE:

• Alberta labour leader out of NDP leadership race as party membership swells to 85,000-plus
• Alberta NDP debate marked by agreement, until it came to Nenshi’s record

Local MLA and former justice minister Kathleen Ganley says now the hard work begins to sway undecided voters.

“We text them, we email them, we call them, we knock on their doors, just like we did to earn their support,” she said. “Now, we try to make sure that we get them out to the polls and get them voting.”

Former Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman says there are several Calgarians who are still on the fence.

“I’ve got the list of party members, and the ones that haven’t voted yet, I’ll be knocking on their doors showing up for my job interview,” she said.

Nenshi, Ganley, Hoffman, and Edmonton MLA Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse are those still on the ballot to take over the NDP from Notley after a decade.

There were previously six people in the race to lead Alberta’s official Opposition. MLA Rakhi Pancholi dropped out following a surge of perceived support for Nenshi, as membership swelled upon his candidacy announcement. Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan took himself off the ballot when he was unable to raise the final portion of the $60,000 entry fee due in mid-May.

But what have voters learned from this race? Well, the candidates agree on the usual NDP ideals. Strong public services, and a cleaner environment, defeating the UCP government.

Perhaps the biggest divide on the stage — how cozy Alberta’s orange MLAs should be with Canada’s New Democrats.

“Every single townhall, every single meeting, every single coffee party I’ve been to, every single one, long term members of the NDP say ‘the federal NDP is a drag on us,” said Nenshi.

Hoffmann adding, “I am proud of where the federal party stands on many, many issues. And there are things where I am not proud. And I will tell them because we are a family.”

Many believe Nenshi is the obvious choice to win. But Alberta is known for leadership vote surprises.

“Nobody expected Ed Stelmach to win. Nobody expected Alison Redford to win the PC leadership. Naheed Nenshi is the clear favourite, but we’ll see where the votes fall. You never know in Alberta politics,” said Tom Vernon, Strategic Communications Consultant with Crestview Strategy.

Nenshi’s website lists “values and priorities” instead of detailed policy proposals. That’s been criticized by his opponents, but it is a sound leadership race strategy, according to political scientist Lori Williams.

“If they say too much about what they would do, then those can be scooped by others, by other leadership candidates or by the government,” said Williams.

Notley announced her intention to step down as head of the party in January, but hasn’t said either way if she plans to run for reelection in her Edmonton riding during the next election.

The NDP is celebrating the fact this race has helped grow its membership base to more than 85,000.

Registered party members should have received their voting packages by now, which includes all the information they should need to vote online, by phone, or by mail, along with a personal identification number.

Voting runs until June 22, when the party will announce its new leader. The results will be announced in Calgary on June 22.

-With files from Sean Amato.