NDP leadership candidates debate for last time before membership vote

The four candidates vying to succeed Rachel Notley as leader of the Alberta NDP made their final pitches in a mostly conflict-free debate in Edmonton, just hours before voting was set to start Monday morning.

Kathleen Ganley, Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, Sarah Hoffman and Naheed Nenshi faced NDP members Sunday afternoon at the Edmonton Conference Centre in the last of three official party debates leading up to the declaration of a new leader on June 22.

The candidates took questions from the audience and each other on topics such as whether to cut ties with the federal NDP, how to ensure Edmonton still has a voice as the party grows, and why they would be the candidate best capable of beating Danielle Smith and the UCP in the next election.

While the NDP made significant inroads into Calgary in last year's provincial election, Alberta's mid-size cities and rural areas remain a challenge.

Ganley said gaining ground in these areas is crucial because the NDP would only have a narrow path to victory by winning the most seats in Edmonton and Calgary.

"We do that by making sure that we're building our local teams, that we're respecting those local voices, that we're making sure that they feel supported and empowered to do the work that they have to do," she said.

"We also give them an economic offer to take to the doors."

Calahoo Stonehouse, who grew up near Onoway, Alta., around 60 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, said the party needs to get out of the cities and sit at the kitchen tables of supporters and non-suppporters. She said they need to listen to why people say they will never vote NDP.

"People don't see themselves reflected in us because of this, this and this. What are we going to do?" she asked. "What are we going to bring back to those neighbours?"

Federal NDP

The issue of whether to continue its connection with the federal NDP remained one area where the candidates diverged. While the parties have a lot of in common, they diverge on the issue of energy policy.

People who join the provincial NDP automatically become members of the federal party, a close connection cited as too much of an obstacle for some potential voters to overcome.

Kathleen Ganley, Naheed Nenshi, Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse and Sarah Hoffman are vying to succeed Rachel Notley as leader of the NDP. (Jay Rosove/CBC )

Both Calahoo Stonehouse and Ganley said its a decision best left for the membership to decide.

Nenshi said the Alberta NDP needs to be an option for people who can't bring themselves to vote for the federal party.

"We have to be able to be attractive to folks who may not want to cast their ballot for the federal NDP," he said.

"And I must tell you that in every single town hall, every single meeting, every single coffee party I've been to, every single one, long-term members of the NDP say to me, the federal NDP is a drag on us.

"If every member is asking this question, we must surface this question."

Nenshi's statement drew a sharp rebuke from Hoffman.

"Nobody can make this decision on their own," she said.

"But there's one colour I don't have to explain to anybody in this room, and that's what orange stands for … I'm proud of where the federal party stands on many, many issues.

"And there are things where I'm not proud and I will tell them because we are a family."

Decision time

The decision is now up to the membership. Voting starts at 9 a.m. Monday morning either online, by mail or by phone. The winner will be announced on June 22.

Nigel Logan was one of the members attending Sunday's debate. He liked that the NDP contest lacks the animosity seen in the 2022 UCP leadership race.

Logan hasn't yet made up his mind about who he's voting for but has narrowed his choices to two candidates — one from Calgary, the other from Edmonton.

"Part of my calculus is who can win an election, a general election, when it comes to all Albertans," he said.

Sydney Costa is also undecided. She is looking for someone who can best Danielle Smith on the debate stage in the 2027 election.

"A really important thing to think about is how do they fare in that kind of environment," she said.

Margaret Milner went to the debate not knowing who she planned to vote for. She came away impressed with Calahoo Stonehouse.

"She's articulate, she's smart, she will appeal to youth, and she is really good on her feet and she can take anybody on in a conversation," Milner said. "So that's why I really like her."

Aaron Singleton originally supported MLA Rakhi Pancholi, who dropped out of the race to endorse Nenshi. He has also switched his support to the former Calgary mayor.

While he said there are no bad options, Singleton believes Nenshi is what the Alberta NDP needs in its new leader.

"He has the best blend of the communication skills and that strategic planning to be able to say this is how we could actually beat Danielle Smith in '27," he said.