Lack of leadership convention puts contest in different light (Alberta NDP)

By Brian Konrad

Alberta NDP missing an opportunity to enhance public profile with new leadership race format, political observer says

Jan 30, 2024 | 12:55 PM

A retired political science instructor at Medicine Hat College says the Alberta New Democrats are squandering an opportunity to enhance its profile with its new leadership contest rules.

Jim Groom said the lack of a traditional leadership convention and a campaign timeline of less than six months casts the contest in a different light.

“Those candidates that will be interested will be out there trying to sell more memberships hand over fist, but when you get down to it it’s a pretty quick turnaround,” Groom told CHAT News on Tuesday.

The campaign begins on Feb. 5 and the voting ends on June 22.

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The new setup doesn’t give candidates “an opportunity to air their grievances in the public, which brings attention and brings people out and gets discussions going,” Groom said.

Groom notes the last UCP leadership contest featured both public and internal debates, which brought attention to the candidates and their positions.

Groom says the format for the campaign also doesn’t allow the party a public forum to debate a return to it’s socialist roots, which might be left to the new leader to decide.

Albertans wanting to vote in the NDP leadership race need to buy amembership before April 22.

Leadership candidates must also hold membership in the New Democratic party.

Voting will be done by mail in balloting, online or by telephone, with results announced June 22.