The majority of delegates at the Alberta NDP convention Saturday voted to end the long-standing tradition of making provincial members automatic members of the federal party.
A change in the Alberta NDP constitution will give members the option to opt out of federal NDP membership. The measure passed by the more than two-thirds of delegates required by party rules, but another portion strongly opposed the change.
“It is remarkably inappropriate to take steps toward destroying unity within the NDP,” said delegate Aiden Clark, who introduced an amendment to keep the status quo.
Party Leader Naheed Nenshi has been outspoken about the need for Canadian unity, while the country’s sovereignty is threatened by the United States. But at the same time, he advocates for measures to fracture the NDP, Clark said.
“We believe that Section 2.16 is the beginning of a decoupling process, which we loudly and vehemently reject,” he said.
Other members backed up Clark’s argument. Edmonton delegate Sean Graham said the amendment would break a Canada-wide movement just to mitigate, what he argued, is a “disingenuous attack” from the United Conservative Party, which is currently Alberta’s governing party.
“It doesn’t matter how many ties we sever with the federal party, they are still going to make the attack of us being tied to the federal New Democrats,” Graham said.
“This party is not just an empty vessel that twists itself into any position necessary to win. Rather, it’s a century-long principled movement that has fought for what’s right even when it’s not popular.”
But other members spoke about the need to open the Alberta NDP to as many potential supporters as possible, including those who disagree with the policies of the federal party, which sometimes conflict with provincial party policies.
Caitlyn Blake, a delegate from the Bonnyville-Cold Lake-St. Paul constituency, said the connection made campaigning difficult when she ran for the Alberta NDP in the 2023 provincial election.
“It is very difficult for me to appeal to rural voters when I can’t tell them with honesty that I can separate myself from that party,” Blake said.
“We need to start allowing people to come into our party, while maintaining their own opinions of federal politics.”
Nenshi promised to end the automatic connection to the federal NDP in his successful campaign to succeed Rachel Notley as NDP leader last year.
He didn’t vote for the federal New Democrats this past election, and he was pleased delegates agreed the policy needed to change, Nenshi told reporters.
“That is a great movement for choice and it’s a great movement for the very, very many thousands and thousands of Albertans who really like what the Alberta NDP have to say, but don’t necessarily agree with the federal party,” Nenshi said.
The convention also allowed delegates to weigh in on Nenshi’s leadership.
He received 89.5 per cent approval from the 774 people who cast ballots.
The vote, required by party’s constitution, comes 11 months after Nenshi won the race to take over from Notley as leader. He received 86 per cent of votes cast at that time.
Hours before the latest approval result was announced, Nenshi delivered a speech that signalled his support for public health care, public schools and prudent use of taxpayer dollars.
He criticized Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, accusing her of making it easier for separatists to launch a referendum on Alberta independence through the government’s new Bill 54.
“Premier Smith, I’m talking to you directly now: Stop playing games,” Nenshi said.
