New Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says he is aiming to join the legislature to “go head-to-head” with Premier Danielle Smith.
He confirmed on Friday he was seeking his party’s nomination to run as a candidate in Edmonton-Strathcona, vacated by former Alberta premier and Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley on Dec. 30.
“This nomination means that I’ll be in the legislature to go head-to-head with Danielle Smith soon,” Nenshi said in a statement posted to social media.
“I believe Alberta New Democrats can be a thoughtful government-in-waiting with real solutions for Alberta families.”
Nenshi does not have a seat in the legislature, having declined to pursue a seat in the Lethbridge-West constituency in mid-December, which was won by NDP candidate Rob Miyashiro.
Nenshi will be the third Alberta NDP leader to run in Edmonton-Strathcona, following in the steps of Notley and Raj Pannu.
Calgary’s mayor for 12 years until 2021, Nenshi said on Friday his Edmonton-Strathcona nomination does not mean he is leaving the southern city “behind.”
“While still proudly Calgarian, I’m already dividing my time between the two cities and I’m looking forward to learning more about Edmonton.”
Smith has until the end of June to call a byelection.
With files from CTV News Calgary and The Canadian Press