‘Her plan is not going to work’: Alberta leader fires up NDP membership at Saturday town hall
Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi laid out a path to the premier’s office at an NDP members' town hall meeting Saturday at the University of Calgary.
Citing the latest polls, Nenshi said the numbers show that support for the Alberta NDP already puts them on the cusp of a majority if an election were held today.
“According to the latest poll, we would win a majority just in Calgary and Edmonton,” Nenshi said.
He was responding to a reporter’s question about what the NDP could do to counter Danielle Smith’s UCP strategy, which is to sweep rural ridings and add 10 to 15 urban seats in Edmonton and Calgary, which gave the UCP its victory in May, 2023.
Nenshi pointed to Lethbridge West, where nominations were recently held for both parties in the riding vacated by NDP veteran Shannon Phillips.
“What you've seen in Lethbridge is really interesting,” Nenshi said. “Now, it was an NDP held riding, to be fair, but the fact that I think the UCP got barely 500 votes for their nomination, we had nearly 1,500.
“I went door knocking, and the excitement in Lethbridge West about sending the UCP a message is very palpable,” he added. “We've got a ton of work to do, but they are blanketing the airwaves. They've got TV commercials running. It's really a sign of desperation, because I think they're realizing that their math is breaking down.”
A date for the upcoming Lethbridge-West byelection has to be announced by the premier by Jan. 1.
“I just want to continue to show the momentum that we have built in the province," he said. "We are the favorites going in. Shannon Phillips has done an amazing job building it.
“But I really want the people of Lethbridge to be able to send the UCP a message,” he added. “You know, if the UCP candidate does well there, or, God forbid, wins there, then that tells Danielle Smith, just keep doing what you're doing.
“And everything I've heard from the people of Lethbridge is they don't want her to keep doing what they're doing. They want a commitment to the university and to the college there. They want a commitment to better health care there, and they need a government that really understands public safety, crime and security in a way that the UCP has not done.
Nenshi explained why he called Premier Smith the “pinball premier” a number of times as well.
“I'm not good at glib insults, but this is an image that is just stuck in my head, that this government is careening wildly from crisis to crisis,” he said. “And look, they're the descendants of a party that was in power for 45 years. They themselves have been in power for five years.
“It's not like they're new with this, but they wait for a crisis to become untenable before they try and fix it,” he added. “It's like plugging the leak when the basement is already flooded.”
With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The best that we can be': Indigenous judge and TRC chair Murray Sinclair dies at 73
Murray Sinclair, who was born when Indigenous people did not yet have the right to vote, grew up to become one of the most decorated and influential people to work in Indigenous justice and advocacy.
India's Modi, Canada's Trudeau condemn violence at Hindu temple near Toronto
The prime ministers of India and Canada condemned violence that broke out on Sunday at a Hindu temple near Toronto at a time of escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
She was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about a year ago. Here's how her condition was reversed
A year ago, Lorraine O'Quinn was coping with stress, chronic illness and Type 2 diabetes. Then she discovered a health program that she says changed her life.
Frustration over Mideast war in America's largest Arab-majority city may push some away from Democrats
As an ongoing part of Omar on the Road: America Decides 2024, CTV National News visited the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus to talk to Arab-American students about why they’re feeling left out of the Democrats’ tent.
3 people arrested after incident during protest at Hindu temple in Brampton, Ont.: Peel police
Peel Regional Police say three people are in custody as they continue to investigate an incident during a demonstration at a Hindu temple in Brampton on Sunday.
Judge rules against Alberta casino, dinner theatre operator
An application to stay a receivership order of Mayfield Investments Ltd., a company that owns multiple businesses in Alberta including the Camrose Resort and Casino, Medicine Hat Lodge and Calgary's Stage West Dinner Theatre, has been denied by the court.
Ikea will pay 6 million euros to East German prisoners forced to build their furniture in landmark move
Furniture giant Ikea has agreed to pay 6 million euros (US$6.5 million) towards a government fund compensating victims of forced labour under Germany's communist dictatorship, in a move campaigners hope will pressure other companies to follow.
Police arrest Netanyahu aide as opponents accuse him of leaking intelligence to thwart Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal
Israeli police have arrested a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over allegedly leaking classified information to foreign media.
Candlelight vigil held outside Halifax Walmart where employee was found dead
Hundreds of mourners took part in a candlelight vigil Sunday night for a young woman who was found dead at a Halifax Walmart last month.