Nenshi unveils Alberta NDP’s commitments to municipalities

"We will take our thumb off the scales of municipal elections."

Author: Jonathan Bradley

Published on: 30 Sep 2024, in The Western Standard

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Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi said he was going to make some promises to municipalities about what it will do if it forms government. 

Under an Alberta NDP government, Nenshi said municipalities will have the right to collect the taxes owed to them from anyone and no industry will be shielded from paying them. 

“We will allow to negotiate the best possible deals for your own local communities by repealing Bill 18 and trusting you to do your jobs,” said Nenshi in a speech at the Alberta Municipalities Convention and Trade Show. 

“We will take our thumb off the scales of municipal elections and stop trying to put in people friendly to us and let people vote for people who best represent them by repealing the election provisions of Bill 20.”

Unlike the Alberta United Conservative Party, Nenshi said the NDP “won’t cave in to conspiracy theorists and cost you hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.” Rather, he pointed out it will let municipalities use vote counting machines. 

While Alberta has many municipal politicians, he said he is grateful for all of them. He added help is on its way. 

Nenshi concluded by saying better is possible. He thanked municipal politicians for their service. 

“Thank you for building Alberta,” he said. 

Alberta NDP MLA Kyle Kasawski (Sherwood Park) said in April Premier Danielle Smith wants to become the gatekeeper-in-chief by introducing the Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act. 

Municipal councils across Alberta have said they do not want municipal ties. 

“They know best how to run their own affairs,” said Kasawski.