Alberta New Democrats for Carney? It’s more complicated than that

At the peak of the oil pipeline debate last decade, tensions ran high between the Alberta NDP and the federal party. Former Premier Rachel Notley even hesitated to confirm her support for Jagmeet Singh’s NDP in the 2019 election. However, as the ice thaws, it seems that relationships have improved.

Notley, now in private life, has publicly endorsed the NDP candidate in Edmonton Centre for the current election. But, some unexpected shifts are occurring as well. Former cabinet minister Stephanie McLean is now running as a Liberal candidate on Vancouver Island. Three-term MLA Rod Loyola left the Alberta NDP caucus to run under Mark Carney’s banner in Edmonton Gateway, although his candidacy was rejected by the party. Additionally, Shannon Phillips, a top lieutenant of Notley and former environment minister, has endorsed the Liberal candidate in Lethbridge, her former riding.

Phillips clarified that many Lethbridge residents who previously supported her are now voting Liberal, not only due to her friendship with candidate Chris Spearman but also as a strategic move to prevent a Conservative victory. She believes that the progressive vote is consolidating around the Liberal Party to stop the Poilievre Conservatives.

According to CBC’s Poll Tracker, Liberal support in Alberta has doubled to 30 percent, while the NDP is polling at around nine percent, half of what they received in the last federal election. Many provincial New Democrats are quietly supporting their federal counterparts, as seen with MLAs Janis Irwin and Sarah Hoffman canvassing with NDP candidates Blake Desjarlais and Trisha Estabrooks.

However, under new guidelines, NDP MLAs are encouraged not to publicly endorse federal candidates or post about their support on social media. There are no sitting NDP members openly endorsing Liberals, with some like Loyola even running as Independents after being rejected by the party.

The UCP has criticized the Alberta NDP for alleged ties to the federal Liberals and NDP. UCP whip Shane Getson called the NDP’s support for Liberals “odd” and suggested it was a “mutiny within their own party.” Despite this, some NDP members and supporters are backing the Liberal Party in this election.

While there are still formal ties between the provincial and federal NDP wings, some members and supporters are crossing party lines. NDP candidate Keira Gunn has received support from some elected members and Alberta NDP president Nancy Janovicek. Naheed Nenshi, the current NDP leader, has stayed neutral in the election.

In other provinces, the lines between the NDP and Liberals often blur, as seen with candidates like John Aldag who has switched between parties. Phillips, while supporting the Liberal candidate in her riding, still believes strongly in the NDP and recently donated to the party for the first time in a decade.

The shift towards supporting the Liberals in this election could have lasting impacts on Canadian politics. Whether this is a temporary change or a long-term shift remains to be seen, but it is clear that the political landscape in Alberta and beyond is evolving.