Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi to seek nomination in Edmonton-Strathcona

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says he'll run to represent Edmonton-Strathcona in the legislature.

Former NDP leader and premier Rachel Notley resigned the seat effective Dec. 30 after nearly 17 years as the riding's MLA. Notley's resignation will prompt a byelection, which must be called within six months.

Since winning the NDP leadership contest last June, Nenshi has said he'd seek a nomination when a seat became vacant in Edmonton or Calgary.

"This nomination means that I'll be in the legislature to go head-to-head with [Premier] Danielle Smith soon," Nenshi said in a Friday morning social media post announcing his candidacy.

Nenshi was mayor of Calgary for more than a decade before seeking the NDP leadership last year.

He says he's still a proud Calgarian, but already splits his time between his home city and the provincial capital and is looking forward to learning more about Edmonton.

During the legislature's fall sitting, Nenshi was relegated to watching debate from the public gallery while Edmonton-Mill Woods MLA Christina Gray served as Opposition leader in the house.

Nenshi wasn't available for an interview on Friday.

Alberta NDP president Garett Spelliscy said in a Friday email the deadline to register as a nominee to become the Edmonton-Strathcona candidate was on Jan. 1. He said the constituency association will meet Jan. 22 to acclaim Nenshi as the candidate.

"Edmonton-Strathcona voters are used to sharing their MLA with the rest of the province, and we think folks will be excited about continuing to have the Alberta NDP leader represent them in the legislature," Spelliscy wrote.

He said the party wanted to be prepared, should the premier call a byelection soon in the riding.

Edmonton-Strathcona 'safest' NDP seat

Deron Bilous, a former Edmonton NDP MLA and senior vice-president of western Canada with Counsel Public Affairs, said the timing is right for Nenshi to try and get into the chamber.

"I don't see the party being hurt by him not having a seat, but it will definitely raise the profile of the party once he does have a seat," Bilous said.

Bilous said Edmonton-Strathcona is the "safest New Democrat seat in the province."

In the 2023 provincial election, 80 per cent of the votes cast in the riding were for Notley. It also had the lowest number of votes cast for the governing UCP in any of Alberta's 87 ridings.

But how will a politician whose identity is inseparable from the city of Calgary fare with Edmonton voters?

"It's a smart move because Naheed needs to continue to build his reputation and credibility in Edmonton," Bilous said. "He needs to prove to Albertans that he is not just a former Calgary mayor and Calgary-centric."

A UCP spokesperson said that party has not yet scheduled a nomination contest in Edmonton-Strathcona.

In an email statement, Premier Smith said she spoke to her party's president and executive director Friday morning and asked them to start the nomination process to choose a locally-selected candidate.

"The residents of Edmonton-Strathcona will have a choice when they go to the polls to elect a new representative," her statement said.

Smith didn't say when she'll call a byelection. Law requires that it be held by June 30.

The premier has previously criticized Nenshi for not seeking a seat sooner. Nenshi has said he did not want to pressure any colleagues to step aside so that he could run.

After winning the UCP's last leadership contest in October 2022, Smith announced within 48 hours she would seek a nomination to run in a byelection in Brooks-Medicine Hat. She won that November 2022 byelection with 55 per cent of the vote.

The legislature is set to resume in late February for the introduction of the provincial budget.

WATCH | Nenshi discusses what lies ahead for Alberta NDP in 2025: 

Year-end interview with NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi

10 days ago

Duration 8:29

Naheed Nenshi discusses his first six months as Alberta NDP leader and what lies ahead in 2025.