Alberta NDP Leader Nenshi to Seek Seat Vacated by Notley

Naheed Nenshi delivers his acceptance speech after being named as the new leader of the Alberta NDP in Calgary, June 22, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has announced he will run for the Edmonton-Strathcona seat left vacant by the departure of former NDP Leader Rachel Notley.

Notley announced last month that she would step down as the representative for Edmonton-Strathcona on Dec. 30 after nearly 17 years in the legislature. She resigned as party leader last January after losing the 2023 election to current premier Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party (UCP). The move triggered a leadership race for the NDP.

Nenshi won 86 percent of the vote during the June leadership election, beating out MLAs Kathleen Ganley, Sarah Hoffman, and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse for the post. The victory did not give him a seat in the legislature, however.

That problem has been solved now that Notley has stepped down as an MLA. Nenshi announced on social media Jan. 3 that he would run in the byelection for Notley’s former riding.

“I’m officially announcing today that I’m putting my name forward for nomination as the Alberta NDP candidate in Edmonton-Strathcona for an upcoming by-election,” he said in a post on the X social media platform. “This nomination means that I’ll be in the Legislature to go head-to-head with Danielle Smith soon.”

Nenshi had been criticized by Smith and some of the UCP cabinet ministers for not seeking a seat following his election as leader.

Nenshi said he was still a proud Calgarian, but was looking forward to learning more about Edmonton.

Nenshi said he has heard from people from all over the province and has gotten to know the NDP caucus members since becoming leader.

“I’ve spent the last six months with the team listening to Albertans about their worries, their priorities, and their hopes,” he wrote. “I believe Alberta New Democrats can be a thoughtful government-in-waiting with real solutions for Alberta families.”

An NDP nomination meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22. The party’s constitution says that if no other approved candidates are eligible for the nomination 21 days before the meeting, the approved candidate is acclaimed.

Nenshi served as mayor of Calgary for more than a decade from 2010 to 2021. Prior to his time in politics, Nenshi was a business consultant and an associate professor at Mount Royal University’s Bissett School of Business.

Alberta’s NDP governed the province from 2015 to 2019, and was defeated by the Jason Kenny-led UCP in 2019.

The UCP won 49 seats in the 2023 election with Smith at the helm, while the NDP secured 38 to become the largest opposition in the province’s history.

Smith has until the end of June to call a byelection.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.