By Charles Lefebvre

Two NDP MLAs announce they will not seek re-election

Jan 21, 2019 | 1:24 PM

EDMONTON, AB — Two members of the NDP caucus have announced they will not be seeking re-election in the spring.

Sandra Jansen, the Minister of Infrastructure, and Strathcona-Sherwood Park MLA Estefania Cortes-Vargas, both made the announcement on Monday.

According to a statement, Jansen says the decision was not easy, but said it was the right one for her family. She adds she will be campaigning for Rachel Notley in the upcoming election.

Jansen was first elected in 2012 with the Progressive Conservative party. In 2016, she crossed the floor to join the NDP.

Cortes-Vargas was elected for the first time in 2015. In a post on Facebook, Cortes-Vargas cites the opportunity “to pursue further professional development opportunities,” as the reason for not seeking re-election.

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“Until the election is held, I plan to continue working hard for all of my constituents,” the statement reads.

Alongside Ricardo Miranda and Michael Connolly, Cortes-Vargas was among the first three openly LGBTQ+ people elected MLA in Alberta. Cortes-Vargas also serves as Government Whip, the youngest person in the province’s history to do so.

With the two resignations, the total number of NDP MLAs not seeking re-election now totals eight.

Medicine Hat MLA and Speaker of the Legislature Bob Wanner, along with MLAs Connolly, Brian Mason, Brandy Payne, Stephanie McLean and Jamie Kleinsteuber have all announced in recent months they won’t seek another term.

Robyn Luff, who was elected with the NDP, but not sits as an independent, has also announced she is not running this year.