So Far, Meet the Alberta NDP Leadership Candidates
The competition to succeed NDP Leader Rachel Notley is intensifying, with five candidates throwing their hat in the ring shortly after Ms. Notley’s resignation announcement.
Ms. Notley revealed her decision during a press conference on Jan. 16. The party has set June 22 as the date to unveil the new leader, as stated on the NDP website.
“We will reveal the results at a special event on June 22, where our party will come together to honor Rachel Notley’s legacy and embrace the fresh direction a new leader will bring,” said Amanda Freistadt, the chief returning officer for the Alberta NDP leadership contest.
So far, the following individuals have declared their intention to run for the leadership position.
MLA Kathleen Ganley
Ms. Ganley, who held the position of justice minister and solicitor general from 2015 to 2019, is an aspiring leader. She boasts a legal background, a juris doctor degree from the University of Calgary, and experience as an associate in a private law firm. Ms. Ganley also possesses Bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and psychology. Currently, she serves as the NDP critic for energy and climate.
She was the first to announce her candidacy publicly on Feb. 5 at an event held at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary.
MLA Rakhi Pancholi
Having been elected in May 2023, Ms. Pancholi is the NDP’s education critic. She has a legal background and has also served as the children’s services critic.
She kicked off her campaign with a video shared on social media.
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“Alberta offers boundless opportunities for all of us,” she stated in a post on Feb. 8. “Today, I am excited to unveil my vision. I am vying to become the leader of Alberta’s NDP and the next Premier of this wonderful province.”
“Now is the time for us to make courageous decisions about the future we aspire to for ourselves and our province,” she expressed in the video.
MLA Sarah Hoffman
A former deputy premier, Ms. Hoffman currently holds the position of deputy leader of the NDP and is the municipal affairs critic. She has also served as a trustee for the Edmonton Public School Board, contributing to enhancing inclusivity, as indicated on the NDP profile page.
Her campaign website highlights her focus on healthcare, housing, and climate.
“Alberta requires our dedication and NDP principles to tackle the challenges we confront,” she conveyed in a video on the website.
MLA Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse
Joining provincial politics recently, Ms. Stonehouse has been the critic for Environment, Parks & Climate Resilience since her election in May 2023. Previously, she served as the executive director for the Yellowhead Indigenous Education Foundation and hails from the Cree and Mohawk communities of Michel First Nation.
She declared her candidacy for the party’s leadership in a post on Feb. 24.
“I am delighted to announce my candidacy for the leader of @albertaNDP and the future Premier of this remarkable province,” she wrote.
The post included a video where she expressed her desire to collaborate with Albertans.
Gil McGowan
For the past 18 years, Mr. McGowan has served as the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour. He ran as a federal NDP candidate in Edmonton during the 2015 election. Though he has not made a public announcement about his candidacy, he has confirmed it to the media.
The Epoch Times reached out to Mr. McGowan for comment but did not receive a response by press time.
Nominations for the NDP leadership election close on March 15.
