NDP’s popularity surging,
Calgary • A yoga teacher, university students and an avid Hugo Chavez aficionado are likely to become Alberta’s newest members of the Legislative Assembly if the NDP manages to cement its surging popularity when Albertans go to the polls today.
“It’s a lot of union reps, and a lot of students. And I’m sure a lot of these people had no idea they were signing up potentially to be MLAs,” said Corey Hogan, director of engagement strategies with Hill and Knowlton.
The NDP, which held only four seats prior to the writ drop, is on track to form a minority — perhaps even a majority government.
Both outcomes would be unprecedented in a province that has been ruled by the Progressive Conservatives for 43 years.
But that means a handful of paper candidates — question- ably qualified would-be MLAs who put their names forward so the party could run a full slate — could be sent to the legislature.
Some of these candidates seem unlikely to win; they include Shaye Anderson, in Leduc Beaumont — known for his epic beard. Or Catherine Harder, running in the wildcard riding of Lac La Biche-St Paul-Two Hills; she lists spending time outdoors and knitting projects as among her hobbies in her NDP candidate profile.
But among those more likely to claim a seat is star candidate Rod Loyola, in Edmonton Ellerslie. He has been a passionate advocate for Hugo Chavez since moving to Alberta from Chile.
Loyola’s suitability was a subject of some controversy on the campaign trail, prompting a non-response from leader Rachel Notley: “Well, you know of course, I won the leadership and one of the things that comes with that is being the leader in terms of developing our platform, which we have done and we have talked about very clearly with Albertans, and which all of our candidates understand will be their job to advocate for in the legislature.”
The NDP’s current fourperson caucus is strong, said Duane Bratt, a policy studies professor at Mount Royal University. “But give me another 10.”
“All of the parties — with the exception of maybe the Progressive Conservatives, have these paper candidates. I’ve got three of my current students running for the Liberal party. ... One of the kids called the Liberal offices to volunteer and they were asked to be a candidate.”
Young candidates in Ed- monton, which is now widely expected to be an NDP rout, include Thomas Dang, 20, a computer science student at the University of Alberta who is running in Edmonton South West and writes a blog about provincial politics, and Jon Carson, a 23-year-old electrician who could topple high-profile former journalist and Tory candidate Katherine O’Neill. Neither Dang nor Carson responded to requests for interviews.
Much of this lack of competitiveness is a direct result of the Conservatives’ extended period in power. As the PC dynasty wore on, opposition parties grew less and less robust and the ruling Tories sapped most of the province’s political talent. Add to that the snap election call — by the Tories’ own legislation, the next election was supposed to be called in a year — and all the parties were left scrambling to fill their nomination openings in time for the election.
Yoga instructor Brandy Payne, for example, seemed like an improbable candidate to defeat former justice minister Jonathan Denis — until the cabinet minister’s marital situation became the subject of an Emergency Protection Order requested by his wife.
Then there is NDP candidate Mike Connolly, who put his name forward in the usually safely right-leaning suburban riding of Calgary Hawkwood. He was taken to task by conservative commentator Ezra Levant for suggesting a woman brandishing a gun and a Bible in a popular viral photograph was analogous to a terrorist.
Connolly later claimed he was being harassed online as a result of the coverage, and even expressed suicidal thoughts on a Facebook post — a picture of which was then circulated by Levant.
Connolly declined to comment and remains a contender for a seat.