Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
National

Jagmeet Singh makes his case to Alberta's new NDP leader amid party separation talks

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 27 Jun, 2024 04:51 PM
  • Jagmeet Singh makes his case to Alberta's new NDP leader amid party separation talks

Breaking up the federal and provincial arms of the New Democratic Party would be a mistake, federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh suggested on Thursday, as members in Alberta increasingly vocalize their desire for a separation.

Singh said the federal and Alberta NDP need to remain united in their goals to bring down conservatives.

"We are united in our goals to take on conservatives, to bring forward a clear vision for a government that works for people," Singh said in Toronto. 

"And the best way we achieve that goal is by being united."

It's a message he said he delivered in a conversation this week with Alberta's new NDP leader, Naheed Nenshi, who took over the helm of the Alberta party from Rachel Notley earlier this week.

But Nenshi intends to ask party members if they want to separate from the federal party, an issue he had campaigned on during the leadership race.

Party constitutions dictate that members of a provincial NDP are automatically members of the federal party. But the link has caused headaches for the Alberta NDP and Nenshi is not backing away from his pledge to address it.

"You know me, I don't wait on things," Nenshi said on Monday during his first press conferencing following his win. 

"But really the issue on this one for me is simply that the members are really talking about it. I hear it every day and the way I like to lead is that I don't like things that are bubbling under the surface."

He plans to bring up the issue with members "as soon as possible" while conceding that it will ultimately be up to members to decide whether or not to divorce, despite his opinion. 

"There's no point in dilly-dallying about it," Nenshi said. "I promise that I will put in a transparent process for the members to make the decision once and for all."

The NDP in both Alberta and Saskatchewan NDP have for years now tried to distance themselves from federal policies around oil and gas, and the carbon price. Notley and Singh have publicly feuded in the past, particularly over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which Singh publicly opposed. The pipeline was critical to Notley's political fortunes in Alberta.

Singh is heavily criticized in the Prairies for propping up the Liberal government through their confidence-and-supply-agreement, and is blamed for helping keep Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in power. 

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe both often draw links between their NDP opponents provincially, and Trudeau's decisions in Ottawa, many of which have been backed by Singh and the federal NDP. Smith and Moe contend Trudeau is overstepping into provincial jurisdiction including in health care, energy and the environment.

Smith's United Conservative Party launched a campaign following Nenshi's win on Sunday after the former Calgary mayor, who doesn't have deep roots within the New Democrats, captured 86 per cent of the vote on the first ballot. 

Albertans will see a series of ads on television, radio, and online platforms "starkly contrasting the tax-and-spend record of Nenshi with the common-sense leadership of Smith," the UCP said in a statement Thursday. 

"We've had enough of Trudeau in Ottawa, we don't need one in Alberta," a slogan on their recent ad says.

"Naheed Nenshi, Trudeau's choice for Alberta."

MORE National ARTICLES

Court-imposed deadline to pass new citizenship law approaching next week

Court-imposed deadline to pass new citizenship law approaching next week
The federal government has just a week left to make key changes to the Citizenship Act in response to a court ruling last year. The Ontario Superior Court has not yet agreed to extend the looming deadline, the Immigration Department said Wednesday, and NDP attempts to rush legislation through the House of Commons have failed. 

Court-imposed deadline to pass new citizenship law approaching next week

B.C. sets minimum wage, other rules for app-based ride-hailing, delivery work

B.C. sets minimum wage, other rules for app-based ride-hailing, delivery work
British Columbia has finalized regulations to provide a minimum-wage and basic protections for ride-hailing and delivery workers using app-based platforms such as Uber, DoorDash and SkipTheDishes. The Ministry of Labour says in a statement the regulations that will take effect on Sept. 3 are a first in Canada.

B.C. sets minimum wage, other rules for app-based ride-hailing, delivery work

B.C. wildfire risk expected to spike this summer after mild spring mitigates blazes

B.C. wildfire risk expected to spike this summer after mild spring mitigates blazes
A cool and wet spring in parts of British Columbia has helped suppress fire activity, but an expected turn in the weather will likely renew wildfire risk this summer. BC Wildfire Service lead forecaster Matt MacDonald says blazes across the province have burned about 300,000 hectares so far this year.

B.C. wildfire risk expected to spike this summer after mild spring mitigates blazes

Farnworth 'glad' Surrey joins completion of transition from RCMP to municipal force

Farnworth 'glad' Surrey joins completion of transition from RCMP to municipal force
Locke raised a white flag this week at a council meeting, saying she is disappointed but accepts the outcome of last month's B.C. Supreme Court judicial review that said the province can order the transition to the Surrey Police Service to continue.

Farnworth 'glad' Surrey joins completion of transition from RCMP to municipal force

B.C. motorcyclist dies after crashing into car, falling onto highway

B.C. motorcyclist dies after crashing into car, falling onto highway
Police say a motorcyclist is dead in a crash Wednesday that snarled morning traffic for Metro Vancouver commuters. Police say the truck driver didn't remain at the scene of the crash on Highway 99 near the George Massey Tunnel in Delta, B.C. 

B.C. motorcyclist dies after crashing into car, falling onto highway

B.C. driver dies from injuries days after windshield crash on highway

B.C. driver dies from injuries days after windshield crash on highway
The driver injured when a rock crashed through her vehicle's windshield last week on a Metro Vancouver highway has died. BC Highway Patrol Cpl. Melissa Jongema confirmed that the vehicle's 34-year-old female driver has died of her injuries after the crash on June 6. 

B.C. driver dies from injuries days after windshield crash on highway