NDP leadership candidates won’t appear at Stampede

Thomas Mulcair and the four candidates running to replace him as leader of the federal New Democratic Party are not planning to attend the Calgary Stampede this year.

The lack of attendance makes the NDP an outlier among other federal parties.

Newly elected Conservative Party Leader Andrew Scheer attended his first Stampede this year, exploring the grounds on July 7 before hosting a $185-a-plate fundraiser the following day. Green Party Leader Elizabeth May hit the breakfast circuit on July 6, followed by a reception in Stampede Park the next night. Justin Trudeau initially wasn’t going to attend Stampede but eventually backtracked and will hit the grounds Saturday.

Thomas Mulcair is interim leader and so come autumn he won’t need to worry about campaigning in Alberta. That’s not the case for the four candidates hoping to replace him, one of whom will try to build on Rachel Notley’s success at the provincial level and win more NDP seats federally.

Postmedia contacted the campaigns of Jagmeet Singh, Nikki Ashton, Guy Caron and Charlie Angus. All say they’ve visited Alberta already during their campaigns, and some promised to come back in the near future. They just won’t be at Stampede.

Farouk Karim, a spokesperson for Caron, said the Quebec MP hasn’t been to Calgary yet since entering the leadership race back in February.

“We’ve done three events in Ed- monton so far, and are planning on doing events in Calgary, Lethbridge and Red Deer in the coming weeks,” said Karim.

Jenn Prosser, Ashton’s campaign director, said the Manitoba MP spent a week and a half in Alberta in April and is not attending Stampede because of another commitment in Manitoba. “The reason she’s not going to the Stampede is its Pow Wow season and she’s attending a number of Pow Wows in Manitoba,” said Prosser.

Singh was in Calgary mid-June, and he’s planning on coming back in the next few weeks. Angus visited Edmonton in May.

Trudeau’s initial decision not to attend Stampede sparked a backlash, with some arguing it was emblematic of government policies they feel are harming the province. That backlash was exacerbated when Trudeau gave a speech on Canada Day listing every Canadian province and territory expect for Alberta. Trudeau’s manager of media relations, Cameron Ahmad, said the only reason the prime minister is coming now is that he previously had a scheduling constraint but now that’s cleared up.

Mulcair, who regularly attended Stampede over the past few years, can’t make it because he’s travelling overseas.

On Saturday, Trudeau will meet with Mayor Naheed Nenshi in the morning, then attend a Stampede breakfast with Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr, followed by the Parkdale Community Stampede breakfast.

In the afternoon he’s scheduled to visit the Indian Village, followed by the rodeo.