In her final speech as leader of Alberta’s New Democratic Party, Rachel Notley praised the party’s supporters in helping to create the legacy of the Alberta NDP.
Notley spoke at the event honouring her at the BMO Center in Calgary on Friday night.
“While the idea of our party’s more recent legacy being mine alone is flattering in the extreme, it is also profoundly untrue,” said Notley.
“It was the sweat, and the tears and the good old-fashioned Alberta elbow grease of everyone — folks here in this room, and many folks not here with us tonight. You have made our party what it is today,” Notley said.
“This journey did not start with us, or with me,” Notley added. “Alberta NDP leaders like Ray Martin, Ross Harvey, Pam Barrett, Raj Pannu, Brian Mason and my own father Grant, all of whom paved the way with their own dedication and vision.”
Speaking on her time as Alberta premier, Notley said, “From day one, we channelled our progressive values into the legislature to implement the most ambitious, change-making agenda Alberta had ever seen.
“Most days it just felt like we were building the plane while flying it, doing our best to respond to the needs of such a diverse province. Through fighting wildfires, welcoming refugees, through economic recession and resurgence, we worked to make life better.”
Notley joked that she tried to have Friday night’s fundraising event rescheduled, as it clashed with Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals between Edmonton and Florida.
Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh was also in attendance for Friday night’s event.
Notley’s legacy
Notley was elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2008, before becoming NDP leader in 2014. One year later she led the party to victory in the 2015 provincial election.
She is currently the longest-serving MLA in Alberta’s Legislature.
Lori Williams, associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, said Notley changed the political landscape in Alberta.
“She went from four seats to 54 in 2015. She now has led the NDP to the biggest opposition in Alberta history. She’s grown the party in Edmonton, where it was already strong, grown it in Calgary and in some areas around Calgary and Edmonton, ” Williams said.
“A lot of things have been accomplished by Rachel Notley that are still with the province, and the vision that she offered, that balance between energy and the environment I think, is one that is more appealing to some Albertans than the current government’s position.”
Her biggest mistake, according to Williams, was with Bill 6, which introduced workplace safety measures and compensation to farm workers.
“It was not messaged well, there wasn’t enough consultation, and that alienated a lot of rural Albertans.”
Notley will remain as MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona for the current term.
Leadership vote
A record 85,000 members are set to pick a new leader out of four candidates on Saturday, with the NDP hosting their Leadership Premiere event at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Calgary.
Voting for the preferential ballot will close at noon, with the first results being revealed at 2 p.m.
Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Edmonton legislature members Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse and Sarah Hoffman, and Calgary MLA Kathleen Ganley are all looking to take the helm of the NDP.
Williams said Nenshi appears to be the favourite to win.
“Even if somebody else has a first choice, if this was to go to a second ballot a lot of people sort of think because he’s got name recognition and he’s a good communicator, that he would probably be a good second choice for them,” she said.
Williams added that if Nenshi wins, “his job is going to be to try to use his connections within the party, the folks he was up against in this leadership race, and try to bring those folks into the fold.”
“His other task is going to be to enlarge the tent — to generate a little bit more support for his party and for his vision, something that will be more appealing to a broader range of Albertans.”
– with files from The Canadian Press