The debate over the connection between Alberta’s provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) and the federal NDP has taken center stage during the race to pick a new leader for the Alberta Opposition NDP. Party constitutions dictate that members of a provincial NDP are automatically members of the federal party, which has caused political difficulties for Alberta’s NDP in the past and continues to do so as they seek to challenge Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservatives in 2027. The entrance of former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi into the leadership race has brought the issue to the forefront, with Nenshi calling for the Alberta NDP to cut ties with the federal party.
Nenshi believes that the Alberta NDP no longer needs to rely on the federal NDP and that the costs of this alliance outweigh the benefits. Other candidates, such as Rakhi Pancholi and Kathleen Ganley, have also questioned the linkage between the provincial and federal parties. Ganley, a former Alberta justice minister, has expressed openness to the debate, acknowledging the valid concerns of members. The alliance with the federal NDP has forced Alberta New Democrats to navigate a policy tightrope on energy and environmental issues, particularly in a province where non-renewable resources such as the oilsands play a significant role in the economy.
The tensions between the provincial and federal NDP were highlighted in 2018 when then-Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s government supported Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to purchase the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, a move that was criticized by environmental advocates. This conflict was seized upon by the United Conservative Party (UCP) in the provincial election, portraying the Alberta NDP as either complicit or subservient to the federal NDP’s agenda. Former Alberta NDP leader Ray Martin argues that there is strength and pride in the shared history of the two parties, dating back to the founding of the NDP by Tommy Douglas in 1961.
Despite the controversy, some believe that severing ties with the federal NDP may make the provincial party more appealing to voters alienated by Alberta’s shift towards the political right under the UCP. Political scientist Lori Williams suggests that moving away from the federal NDP could attract former Progressive Conservative voters who do not see their values reflected in the UCP. Ultimately, the decision to maintain or sever ties with the federal party will have implications for the future direction and appeal of the Alberta NDP. The new leader of the Alberta NDP is set to be announced on June 22, with candidates such as Gil McGowan and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse also in the running.
