Ousted NDP MLA returns at behest of constituents

EDMONTON Calgary-East MLA Robyn Luff returned to the legislature Wednesday, ending her protest over what she considered mistreatment at the hands of her former party.

Walking up the marble stairs to the chamber for the first time since being booted from the NDP caucus, Luff said it felt good to be back.

“I can’t say I would have expected to find myself here, but this is where I am,” she said.

“My constituents have been very clear that they want me to go back ... and I’m happy to do so.”

Luff began the fall session by refusing to sit in the legislature, protesting what she called a “culture of fear and intimidation” in the NDP that doesn’t let MLAs properly represent their constituents.

In a series of open letters, Luff outlined her complaints against party brass, including Premier Rachel Notley, and said she wouldn’t return until the culture changed.

Instead, she was kicked out of the caucus, with the NDP saying it had lost confidence in Luff ’s ability to participate as a productive and trustworthy member of the team.

Luff’s’s return to the chamber followed a meeting with the Speaker who asked her to put her concerns in writing so he can follow up. In that letter she plans to outline the need for a third-party process to investigate complaints of harassment or bullying.