“The purple is an invitation to say: set aside who you are and let’s define ourselves by our common humanity. And I thought to myself: I’ve got no political home. But then I talked to so many of you … my political home is here in the Alberta NDP.”—Naheed Nenshi, leader of the Alberta NDP.
If Naheed Nenshi manages his transition to Alberta NDP leader with the same grace he showed in his acceptance speech he’s home free.
Nenshi, the outlier who entered the NDP leadership race late, won on the first ballot with a resounding 86% of the vote (unlike Danielle Smith who claimed the UCP leader’s chair on the 6th ranked ballot with a measly 54% of the vote).
Acceptance speech
When Nenshi stepped on stage to accept the leadership, the words of the speech writer Christian Nwachukwa came to mind. Nwachukwa said: “A great political speech should speak to you and make you a part of its time and place.
This was Nenshi’s time and Nenshi’s place. And now it’s ours.*
Nenshi talked a lot about home. The Alberta NDP was his political home and the NDP movement could fill Alberta, our province and our home, with hope, openness and inclusivity. And turn it into a place where we’re no longer angry and afraid, convinced that out here in Fortress Alberta, that everyone is out to get us.
Nenshi didn’t waste much time on Danielle Smith, simply noting that she thinks small and misspoke when she characterized herself as the most freedom loving premier in Canada when, in reality, she’s the most power loving premier Canada’s got (he had many examples).
Building the movement
When Nenshi turned his attention to what must be done to build the movement he invoked the names of outstanding political leaders like Tommy Douglas, Ed Broadbent, Jack Layton, Grant Notley, Brian Masion, and of course Rachel Notley, who he described as the architect, the master builder, and a once in a life time politician.
He reminded us that building the movement so it’s campaign ready in 2027 will be hard work, but it will be joyous and satisfying as well.
He quoted Martin Luther King who said: “Now let us begin. Now let us rededicate ourselves to the long and bitter—but beautiful—struggle for a new world.”
This is an interesting quote not just become of who MLK was, but because it’s taken from King’s anti-Vietnam War speech and the sentence immediately preceding it is this: “If we do not act, we shall surely be dragged down the long, dark, and shameful corridors of time reserved for those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.”
Perhaps Nenshi didn’t want to end his speech on a dark note, but wow, the description fits what we’ve experiencing under Smith and her UCP government.
It’s a wrap
Nenshi closed by welcoming those who were not “here” to join the movement. He urged all of us to dream bigger and build a better Alberta for everyone.
The NDP party is strong, Nenshi is a dynamic new leader with three years to convince Albertans to dream big.
I think he could pull it off.
*NOTE: This blog reflects my interpretation of Nenshi’s speech. Others may have different views.
Susan on the Soapbox 
I was there in the room when Nenshi was announced as the winner – it was electric! The crowd exploded into claps, and Nenshi deserved it all!
Keleemaui: From what I could see on the live feed, it looked like the convention centre was packed, standing room only. And there were at least 4000 people following online as well. It was a remarkable victory for Nenshi. As you said, he deserved it!
thanks Susan, great piece 👏 I watched it live and was very impressed with how he expressed gratitude right off the bat 👏 just watched his presser and was impressed with how he could parle Anglais et francais ❤️ were in good hands with the movement continuing to grow..
Bota28: thanks! Yes, you’re right, Nenshi did start with gratitude, which was wise.
Towards the end he brought everyone up on to the stage: Rachel, his competition, Kathleen, Sarah and Jodi, the MLAs who’d endorsed him, his campaign team, all the MLAs in the room, and his family. After he’d packed the stage with all of these people he said this is what Alberta looks like (or something to that effect). I think his inclusive, welcoming message will resonate with Albertans and the movement will grow.
Thanks Susan — very hopeful for Alberta Linda McFarlane403-999-9299 C
Linda: me too!!!
That has been Nenshi, consistently. Apparently that is still Nenshi, consistently.
mikegklein: that’s an astute observation. Nenshi has been consistent throughout his political career. He has integrity, unlike Smith who tells us she won’t do something one day and rams it down our throats the next. Her lies re: our pensions come to mind.
Susan: Thanks for sharing another another blog. This is going to be great, because now that Naheed Nenshi is here, Danielle Smith is not going to be playing her stupid games. Naheed Nenshi will easily take Danielle Smith and the UCP to task for their very costly mistakes, which are quite numerous, and quite costly, and anything else they are doing wrong. What gives Naheed Nenshi an added advantage is that he has known Danielle Smith for over 30 years, so she won’t be able to play any games with him. I’ll play some more fitting music. Here’s a composition written by Steve Winwood and Spencer Davis, from The Spencer Davis Group, called Hey Darling. This was recorded in 1965, and was released in early 1966. Steve Winwood was only 17 years when this was recorded. Steve Winwood is on vocals and lead guitar. Spencer Davis, who was 26, when this was recorded, is on rhythm guitar. Muff (Mervyn) Winwood, Steve’s older brother, was 22 when this was recorded, and is on bass guitar. Pete York, was 23 when this was recorded, and is the drummer. This is in my music collection. I did see Steve Winwood twice live, as the opening act for Tom Petty. The last time I saw Steve Winwood live, was in Calgary, in 2014.
*another great blog* Only if there was an edit feature here.
Dwayne, I agree that Nenshi has got Smith’s number and he’ll hold her to account (in no uncertain terms) each and every step of the way. Smith is in for a long 3 years–assuming she lasts to the end of her term. As the Winwood song suggests, it’s time for her to go.
I did the math and realized that Winwood would have been 66 when you saw him perform in 2014. These guys are amazing, aren’t they.
This is great news for those of us who want Alberta to have a future. Maybe it’s time to stay and fight for what we believe in instead of giving in and leaving. It had gotten to the point that staying was a matter of letting the darkness destroy our incomes, our education, our health, our environment, our retirement, our souls, our hopes and dreams for ourselves, our children and their children. No more! Alberta can be the place that we used to love once again. It will take hard work, but that is what this place is known for. It took a few short years to turn Alberta a dismal place dreams went to die. This never should have happened. Now we have a few short years to turn things around. Never again!
Albertarian: I agree with everything you’ve said. We too considered leaving Alberta when Smith was returned to power, but decided against it because our kids are here. That meant we’d have to stay and fight for Alberta against what seemed like impossible odds. Then boom! new hope in the form of Nenshi. He’s got the smarts and the personality to pull us all together, the fact that membership ballooned to 85,000 when he entered the race and he won with 86% of the vote on the first ballot demonstrates that.
I can’t stop smiling! 🙂
Susan: Here is my next song pick. This is a Steve Winwood penned instrumental from The Spencer Davis Group, called Trampoline. This was also recorded in 1966, when Steve Winwood was only 17 years of age (he would turn 18 in May of that year). He is on piano and organ here. Because Steve Winwood is a multi-instrumentalist, it could be likely that he is playing all the instruments here. Steve Winwood learned to play the piano when he was 3 or 4 years old, and learned to play guitar when he was around 8 years old. He learned to play many other instruments too, including bass guitar, drums, harmonica, mandolin, organ, and others. Steve Winwood was a professional musician since he was around 8 years of age, and he was in his father’s jazz/dance band, with his older brother Muff (Mervyn), who turned 81, on June 15. Muff Winwood became an A&R executive, and a record producer later on.
Dwayne: this Steve Winwood instrumental is perfect for my mood. Upbeat and happy. I didn’t realize Winwood started playing music at such an early age or that he was so versatile. Seems to me being a world renowned musician was his destiny. Thanks.
Susan: Here is my final song pick. This is from Steve Winwood’s next band that he co-founded in 1967, when he was 19 years of age, Traffic. Steve Winwood and his older brother Muff (Mervyn) left the Spencer Davis Group in 1967. Steve Winwood was only 18 when he quit the band. The song is Paper Sun. It was written by Jim Capaldi and Steve Winwood, and was recorded and released in 1967. All four members of Traffic, Jim Capaldi, Dave Mason, Steve Winwood, and Chris Wood are multi-instrumentalists. Steve Winwood is on lead vocals, organ and bass. Dave Mason is playing guitar, sitar, and is on background vocals. Jim Capaldi is on drums, percussion and background vocals. Chris Wood is on flute. This is also in my music collection, along with the other two songs.
Dwayne: what I find astonishing is that Winwood was so young when he wrote and performed this song. The lyrics are simple and yet so evocative. In my mind’s eye I could see the cigarette burning on the window sill. That’s good writing. Thanks.
I just hope all the newbies who joined the party to vote for Nenshi, consider hanging around to do some work. Having worked hard myself for this party over the last few decades…I would appreciate some new recruits.
My fear is that many of Nenshi’s followers voted him in because like many Albertans, they want the gong show to end and the boom years to return. In my part of the province, wanting doesn’t make much difference without a goodly bit of sweat and labour.
I was struck by a recent poll that showed UCP support hasn’t slipped at all in the first year of their mandate. That surprised me. NDP support was the same as a year ago as well. That poll suggests more ideological loyalty than many of us shocked by the UCP’s actions might imagine.
And Nenshi is a smart politician, but he’s no ‘silver bullet’. I’m waiting to see how he pulls in the rural vote, and what policy changes he endorses, before making my final judgement.
Fair comment noklebym. I know quite a few people who joined the NDP after Nenshi threw his hat in the ring. If they’re any indication of the kinds of people who’ve joined the movement, they are here because they want the gong show to end, but they also don’t want the fossil fuel boom years to return. They’re keenly interested in transitioning away from fossil fuels, strengthening public services, reducing inequity, etc. Many of them worked hard for Nenshi when he was mayor and I believe they’ll continue to work hard for him as the NDP leader. As one of them put it to me, Nenshi gives us hope that Alberta can be a better place than what Smith has made it.
As you said, Nenshi is not a “silver bullet”, he’ll need all the support he can get to pull in the broad support necessary to put the NDP back into government.
PS that poll showing the UCP support remains strong stuns me, especially given the decline in healthcare (doctors leaving, ERs being closed down) in rural areas. Makes you wonder what it will take to break through their ideological loyalty.
Thanks for the information…….we too want the ndp to look reality in the face and come to a clear understanding that we can’t continue to base our prosperity on the dirtiest oil (tar) on the planet….or on fracked gas. Both destroy too much potable water, for a province already staring down drought.
We have a vegetable garden…..and this year it seems as if even those two substantial rains we’ve had, haven’t been enough to soak through to where the ground is bone dry……without water, not much grows in Alberta.
A hotter planet means more evaporation, less ground water….and downpours don’t enter the ground water as they should when things have been allowed to dry out.
If Nenshi is bringing with him climate activists who’ve done some research and are ready to start building a more sustainable economy, we’ll be thrilled.
As for those UCP voters who haven’t flinched….I don’t think they pay any attention…..but know as well as we do who’s pocket Danielle and the UCP are in. At the information sessions on the Alberta pension plan, I got the feeling even some seniors who voted UCP don’t want her messing with their pension…knowing full well where she is likely to invest it.
Stranded assets aren’t out of the question as the world transitions….and even I heart oil and gas boosters know it.
Thanks nokelbym: seems to me Albertans are going to have to learn their lesson the hard way, water will run out, forest fires will burn, crops will die, hospitals will close, education will become subpar. And only then will they figure out there is a better way. Maybe then they’ll look to Nenshi as the one who can show them the way out of the mess they’ve created for themselves.
noklebym
Like you, I will wait for my final judgment on Nenshi. I wish him the best.
Also like you, I cannot understand a support of 45% for Danielle Smith. It is scary to think that 45% of our people in Alberta get behind this unethical, immoral and incompetent government.
I was initially skeptical about Nenshi when he first announced he was going to run. He had telegraphed he might consider doing so when he made that impassioned speech at that rally in Calgary in early February against Daniellezebub’s attack on trans youth — and that was a fine performance. But this is a man who has always been openly disdainful of party politics throughout his political career.
But as the campaign went on, and the signed up membership numbers soared, I watched all three official debates, and he espoused values that are perfectly aligned with New Democrat values. I also attended an all-candidates forum in Grande Prairie not long after Gil McGowan dropped out of the race, and he impressed. But I still wasn’t quite convinced, and when it came time to mark my ballot, I picked him as my second choice after one of the more established MLAs.
However, as I watched the vote result announcement online, I was astounded by the numbers. First, the total eligible vote count, which made Alberta’s NDP the largest provincial political party in Canada. Then the 85.5% turnout, which is absolutely incredible — the highest voter turnout in any party leadership vote anywhere in Canada since this kind of one-member, one-vote system supplanted the old-style delegated convention system almost everywhere in the country (“voter turnout” is not really a thing in delegated leadership conventions). It also far higher than in almost any general election anywhere in recent memory.
But most astounding of all was the magnitude of Nenshi’s win: 86% of first choice votes cast. I had a spreadsheet ready to compile first, second, third and final ballots, as I did when I watched the UCP leadership results in October 2022 (as Sun Tzu said, “know your enemy”); I didn’t need it.
Then I watched his acceptance speech. Wow, he’s a compelling speaker. Politics is about persuasion, and dull, plodding, droning politicians — of whom we have too many today — don’t persuade. And there was nothing in his speech, or in any of his other appearances I’ve seen him in, that I could take issue with. He talked about hope — hope for a better future for this province and its people. I think I’m a convert.
Alberta’s NDP, and Rachel’s legacy, are in good hands, I think.
Yes, a most compelling speaker. I went to hear him in St. Albert and came away completely energized.
Maggie, I had the opportunity to hear Nenshi speak at a fund raiser hosted by the former federal conservative politician Lee Richardson. Nenshi spoke for 35 minutes–as he said in his acceptance speech, short speeches are just not in his wheelhouse–and we were mesmerized. One can only hope that as he continues to travel across the province reaching out to the smaller communities, he will touch those who are not completely blinded by ideology.
jerrymacgp: I swear you’ve been shadowing me! I went through the same analysis you’ve expressed here, right down to picking Nenshi as my second choice candidate. Like you, I was blown away by the magnitude of his win, and his amazing acceptance speech.
I suspect the UCP party strategists are huddled in a room somewhere telling themselves, it’s a blip, it means nothing. But they’re wrong. Rachel did an amazing job building the movement and (because the conservatives were split into two parties) formed government and did her job well. The conservatives united to force Rachel’s NDP out of office and they succeeded, but just barely. Now Nenshi is here and they’ve got a real fight on their hands. With any luck, the UCP will splinter over the next few years as their approval ratings tank. And even if they don’t split into two parties, we’ll be ready for them come 2027.
Exciting times ahead!
I will start on a pessimistic note, it will not be easy. Conservatism is quite entrenched in Alberta and if Rachel Notley with, in my opinion, all her great qualities couldn’t overcome it, this task will not be easy for anyone else either.
However, on a more positive note, Nenshi is used to battling hard against conservatives and prevailing. While he is new to party politics, many have pointed out that municipal politics can often be partisan too, councillors and candidates can have their own ideological outlooks, they just don’t have party labels, at least not yet.
Nenshi is also inspirational in a way that many other politicians these days are not. His generally positive messaging will be quite a contrast to Smith and the UCP, who often do seem negative and small and may seem even more so in comparison. Voters are in a sour mood now, so negativity seems to currently have some appeal, but generally over the course of time positivity is more likely to win elections. One criticism of the last campaign for the NDP is it fell into a trap about spending too much time and attention being negative about the UCP. While I feel many of the criticisms were quite valid, somehow that strategy did not work.
There are I think two big challenges for Nenshi. First, he will have to learn party politics and the particular nature of teamwork involved. He will be front and centre, but he has a very capable team of MLA’s some with more experience than him. He needs to be aware of that, take full advantage of it, and realize he is not the only smart person in the room. Second, Alberta is not just Calgary and Edmonton. Yes, the NDP could possibly win a few more seats in Calgary with Nenshi, but if the UCP can hold its rural and rest of Alberta base, they could still narrowly win next time like they did in the last election. So he needs to get out and connect with people outside of the big cities too, show he realizes they have important issues too and try to understand and respect them. He of course, epitomizes big city mayor so that could be challenging, but he can be quite engaging when he wants and he obviously achieved much political success in the past by winning over some who were initially hesitant.
Dave, I agree with everything you’ve said. Your last sentence in which you said he can be quite engaging and has achieved much politcal success by winning over some who were initially hesitant reminded me of when he first ran for mayor. He was a nobody out of a poorer community in the north-east, but his smarts and his self deprecating manner won people over. I realized he was a force to be reckoned with when a stuffy middle aged businessman asked me “who is this Nenshi fellow?”
As you said he has some baggage (big city mayor who raised taxes) but I suspect he’ll overcome that.
I think it’s brilliant that he’s already painted Smith out as the small minded premier who’s policies are too small for this great big province of ours.
Interesting times ahead!
Nenshi’s style is to share the credit & work with others. He’s no pushover, but wherever possible he tries to get consensus or agreement instead of discord. Hopefully by the time the next election rolls around Albertans will be ready to ditch the UCP & work towards a better province rather than just what’s best for those in power at the expense of everyone else.
Thanks for this Linda. I’m hoping that by the time the next election rolls around Albertans will be so sick of the UCP’s carping and negativity that they’ll be ready to embrace a political party led by a leader who offers them hope.
Nenshi is certainly a unique politician and, in my opinion, a good person. He is unique because he seems to care about a part of life that seems to be almost inexistent for most politicians today. Not just in Canada. It is surprising he has been able to keep a bit of humanity when he went to Harvard.
I think that uniqueness has been very advantageous to him and the reason he has been elected NDP leader. A party that now houses anyone that believes life is not just a money transaction.
I trust him but I need results before I have an opinion. The political world is full of examples of people that started like him and ended up almost the opposite. Remember Greece as one example?
I do not expect him to behave like a social democrat because I do not believe he is one but right now anyone with his charisma and approach to politics and his experience, could be our hero. The province is sliding into oblivion and if Danielle Smith does not get thrown out or the UCP goes into turmoil and we require an early election, I doubt anyone will be able to bring this province back.
I maybe be wrong and I hope so for the sake of young Albertans. But the Home that Nenshi talks about a lot and that, like him, I love, is in big trouble with the consequences of what we have done for the sake of money alone.
The pollution to be cleaned up is extraordinary and we do not know half of the story.
Here is more to add to the tailing pounds and the 3000 oil wells to be decommissioned.
I think most of us do not want to face the horrendous job this is and the costs, but they are real and if we are going to live here we have no way to change that. Unless of course we want to witness the same horrible examples in the third world where this kind of consequence was inevitable due to corruption and lack of leadership. Well we did not do much better in Alberta.
To be honest I do not think any politician in Alberta has taken this issue seriously, including Rachel Notley.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2024/06/25/Massive-Harm-LNG-Fracking-Tallied/
Carlos, I agree with your comments re: Nenshi and I’m hopeful that since he’s not your typical politician he’ll bedevil Smith and the UCP who have not yet grasped who they’re up against. As you said, the proof is in the pudding. He’ll have 3 years to show us his stuff and then another 4 after he’s elected to show he can deliver what he’s promised. .
The Montney article echos what I’ve heard in the energy sector for years. The amount of water needed by both oil and natural gas is astounding. Sadly, the boards of directors all believe the best strategy is to get it out of the ground as fast as possible and damn the consequences. All the more reason to elect politicians who understand the gravity of our situation.
Interesting that First Nations seem to easily forget their Mother Earth as soon as they start getting a piece of the pie. Not surprising at all.
Like the colonialists, they can start bying their toys. As far as the wales, well they can wait a bit longer. We can keep painting them.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-lng-project-green-light-1.7246525
Read the whole article to have a sense of how insane we are. Again a Social Democrat leading this attack on our environment.
It feels total destruction is inevitable. It is already in our DNA. We are junkies.
Carlos, thanks for this article. What makes this discussion so difficult in the context of our Indigenous peoples is comments like this the one made by Haisla Chief Coun. Crystal Smith who said, “Cedar LNG will make the most significant mark on economic reconciliation ever in our country.”
We’re familiar with the argument that energy companies are not doing enough to mitigate climate change, but I don’t know how to address the argument that “economic reconciliation” takes precedence over climate change.
Congratulations to N.Nenshi and the New Democratic Party on selecting a new leader. Even though it was hardly close in the count it seems to me there was so much quality in all the candidates all around that it was likely a difficult choice for most members to make, so I’m glad all the runners-up will be sticking around too (they have seats)
Now to get the leader seated in the house.
Read this morning that the UCP is taking Mr. Nenshi seriously. As in, the attack ads are beginning NOW. They are using the Nenshi/Trudeau/Liberal theme, showing pictures of Nenshi with Trudeau, Chahal & also talking about how taxes went up in Calgary during Nenshi’s tenure & in short, trying to make it look like Nenshi in the leadership role as Premier of Alberta will be tax & spend for stuff we really don’t need (hello there, War Room?). And oh yes, all of Alberta’s fiscal woes that ever were occurred during Ms. Notley’s tenure as Premier. Us ever prudent Con types had nothing to do with it, no sir. It was all those foolish liberal types. Let’s overlook such things as promising a tax cut that is now postponed until the next election year – what a surprise – or messing with health care, attacking our health care workers during Covid, trying for wage rollbacks for said health care workers, shipping folks off to other provinces to get health care in the first place, the whole coal mining debacle which they are still trying to push through, paying for a pass to visit K country – so much for Lougheed’s ‘for all Albertans’ concept – the support of Covid deniers including UCP members joining the Coutts blockade plus let’s not forget Pastor Al & Dannie’s little confab to aid Al to escape justice. Etc.
Linda: Where are these attack ads? They should be illegal, as there is no provincial election in Alberta until 2027. Also, these attack ads are not fact based.