Naheed Nenshi delivers his acceptance speech after being named as the new leader of the Alberta NDP in Calgary on Saturday.--CP PHOTO JEFF McINTOSH
asmith@medicinehatnews.com
Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi has taken the leadership of the Alberta NDP with an overwhelming 86 per cent of votes, though he notes the work has really just begun.
Currently not having a seat in the legislature himself, Nenshi announced during a Monday press conference that MLA Christina Gray from Edmonton-Mill Woods will be fulfilling the role of leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition in Alberta, in addition to her work as House leader for the Alberta NDP.
“I’m also thrilled to announce today that after much begging and pleading on my part, Rakhi Pancholi has agreed to take on the mantle, the deputy leader of Alberta’s NDP,” said Nenshi. He added that there will not be any changes in house leadership, or in the critic roles at this time.
He added that at this time, he is not in a rush to gain his seat in the legislature.
“I actually think that, having not been in the legislature before, having been in politics in a different way, I bring a set of fresh eyes to the situation,” said Nenshi. “Most Albertans don’t know that our Alberta legislature actually doesn’t meet all that much. It’s one of the lowest meeting in terms of frequency of legislative meetings in North America. And so I really want to ensure that we’re out in the community, talking to Albertans.”
Nenshi intends to be spending the immediate future working with the staff and members of caucus on how to work together efficiently. However, he did say he does not intend to run in Lethbridge-West, where Shannon Phillips is resigning from, but rather, he hopes to eventually become MLA for his own home community in Calgary, as to be attentive to the people he’s representing when the right time comes.
One issue at the forefront of Nenshi’s mind is the affiliation between the provincial and federal NDP, something he says will be creating an opportunity for Alberta NDP party members to make their opinion clear in the near future.
“The UCP is not affiliated with the Conservative Party of Canada; of course, they get along, of course, they work together, but they’re unaffiliated, only the NDP is different,” said Nenshi. “I certainly have an opinion, my opinion is that we should be in charge of our own destiny. But ultimately, the members will make that vote, and I will abide by whatever the decision the members make is.”
Nenshi suggested that the topic will come forward in the party convention next spring. For now, his priority remains getting to better know those he will be leading and working with, and getting people aligned on their goals for the future.
“You’re going to probably see a little less emphasis on what happens inside this building. And a little more on what happens outside in the community,” said Nenshi. “You’re going to see both a caucus and a party staff that are much more focused, that are much more aligned on ensuring that we win the election in 2027.”
“But right now, my job is to listen, my job is not to break anything that is working well, and to figure out how we can build on this incredible thing that people like Christina and Rakhi have built already,” said Nenshi.
