Despite Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi criticizing Alberta Premier Danielle Smith amid the province’s growing separatist movement, he is now applauding a separation movement of his own.
Alberta’s New Democratic Party delegates have voted to allow its members to opt out of joining the federal NDP at Sunday’s annual party convention in Edmonton.
This comes as an attempt to distinguish the highly unpopular federal party from the provincial opposition party in public optics.
NDP leader Naheed Nenshi shared remarks celebrating this action; “this is a great movement for the very, very many thousands and thousands of Albertans who really like what the Alberta NDP have to say, but don’t necessarily agree with the federal party and this now gives them that choice.”
Until now, Alberta NDP members were automatically signed up as federal NDP members, a practice Nenshi described as a political liability.
The vote, which required two-thirds support, passed with only a small minority of delegates standing in opposition.
In a crowd of more than 1,000, just two or three dozen expressed dissent.
Nenshi dismissed those concerns.
“It’s saying to everyone, ‘look, you’re welcome here,’” he said, adding that the Alberta NDP remains financially and politically independent.
The move also signals a departure from the legacy of former leader Rachel Notley, who last year called the idea of separating from the federal party “short-sighted and superficial.”
Nenshi’s broader mandate, however, appears solidified.
In his first leadership review, Nenshi received 89.5 per cent support from delegates, up from the 86 per cent he received during last year’s leadership contest.
However, Elections Alberta cited the Alberta NDP for inflating membership numbers during Nenshi’s leadership race.
The Alberta NDP was treating donations as automatic membership renewals, which violated election rules.
Premier Danielle Smith, speaking in the legislature ahead of the convention, said the vote reflects the Alberta NDP’s attempt to distance itself from a “damaged brand,” pointing to the federal NDP’s losses in last Monday’s federal election, where it dropped 17 seats and lost official party status.
Nenshi rejected the characterization, accusing Smith of misrepresenting the move.
“The premier treats Albertans with contempt. She takes us all for fools,” he said.
Tensions over Alberta’s political direction were further inflamed Saturday as Albertans gathered at the legislature grounds for a separatist rally, fuelled in part by the Liberal Party’s fourth consecutive federal victory.
The UCP government introduced legislation last week lowering the threshold for citizen-initiated referendums, prompting renewed calls for a vote on Alberta’s place in Canada.
Smith has said she supports a sovereign Alberta within a united Canada and maintains that Albertans are free to pursue any petition they choose.
Nenshi criticized Smith’s actions.
“Stop pretending that it’s just a citizen-initiated process and you’re just standing around watching,” he said, mocking Smith’s stance. “I will be damned if I, if we, ever let Danielle Smith tear this country down.”
