Naheed Nenshi denounces new federal NDP leader Avi Lewis
Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck also joined the growing rift between the federal NDP and its provincial counterparts
Author: Quinn Patrick
Right out of the gate, Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi is throwing cold water on the newly elected leader of the federal NDP, Avi Lewis, claiming that it’s a sign the federal party doesn’t have the interest of Alberta in mind.
Nenshi claimed Lewis “openly cheered for the defeat of the Alberta NDP government” and stood in the way of energy development.
“It is clear that the direction of the federal party under this new leader, someone who openly cheered for the defeat of the Alberta NDP government, is not in the interests of Alberta,” wrote Nenshi in a social media post on Sunday.
“We believe in Alberta and we believe in Canadian energy and the good jobs it creates. We believe in more pipelines and in reducing emissions. We believe in strong public services and a strong jobs-driven economy to help pay for them. This is what we are fighting for every day. Albertans deserve federal leaders who understand the importance of Alberta and our essential role in the federation.”
Nenshi went on to say that the provincial party’s “focus is not on what the federal NDP says or does” but rather its “fight is with Danielle Smith and the separatist UCP.”
Lewis was elected as the new federal leader over the weekend with 56 per cent of attendees’ support, with 39,734 votes.
He delivered a speech in Winnipeg at the convention where he criticized the oil and gas sector and accused Prime Minister Mark Carney of “sweeping aside indigenous rights” in pursuit of a pipeline with “no regulations.”
Lewis proposed to protect “Canadian economic independence” by nationalizing several industries, including food, telecommunications, the internet and homebuilding.
Nenshi’s feelings were echoed by Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck, who also penned a letter to Lewis calling out his stance on the province’s energy sector.
“The positions that you have taken when it comes to natural resource development are ideological and unrealistic. They would hurt Saskatchewan workers, communities, and industries,” wrote Beck. “Your approach has not only taken aim at the resources, but at the people who work in these sectors – and it ignores the realities not only in this province but across the country.”
Beck noted that there are more than 40,000 direct and indirect Saskatchewan jobs tied to natural resource development, and at least 900,000 across Canada.
“Entire communities in Saskatchewan rely on these sectors. The policies and positions you have advocated for put at risk $13.6 billion in economic activity annually in Saskatchewan.
The NDP is the party of working people. It’s impossible to support – and respect – working people without respecting the jobs they have, not the ones you think they should have,” Beck continued.
“When you publicly reverse your position on these matters and show a willingness to try to understand the realities of our province and the thousands of proud Saskatchewan workers who rely on our industries to feed their families, I will meet with you.”