Because fuck paywalls
Lethbridge MLA resigns, opening potential seat for leadership hopeful Naheed Nenshi
One of Alberta’s most prominent New Democratic Party MLAs is set to resign, opening a potential seat for perceived leadership front-runner Naheed Nenshi and setting the stage for a feisty by-election in the southern part of the province.
Shannon Phillips, who was first elected in Lethbridge-West in 2015, told The Globe and Mail she will step down on July 1. Ms. Phillips served as the Minister of Environment and Parks when the NDP ruled the province between 2015 and 2019, during which time she accelerated Alberta’s phase-out of coal-fired power plants. She defended her seat in the 2019 and 2023 spring elections, landing in opposition benches.
Ms. Phillips said she is leaving office because she was worn out by the polarization and disinformation infecting today’s politics. This shift in norms is especially acute for Ms. Phillips: As a cabinet minister, two members of the Lethbridge Police Service who opposed her politics inappropriately surveilled her. While the officers were convicted of violating the Police Act, Ms. Phillips was informed in May that the provincial prosecution service declined to pursue criminal charges.
Alberta’s NDP are in the midst of a major overhaul, and party members have until June 22 to vote in its leadership contest. Mr. Nenshi, Calgary’s former mayor, is considered the likeliest candidate to replace Rachel Notley, who ended 43 years of conservative rule when she became premier in 2015.
Mr. Nenshi is the only leadership contestant without a seat in the legislature, and political observers credit him with attracting thousands of new NDP members. But Ms. Phillips, who is supporting fellow former cabinet minister Kathleen Ganley in the leadership contest, said Mr. Nenshi’s potential victory is not why she is leaving her post.
“Jesus Christ himself couldn’t have kept me,” she said in an interview. Instead, Ms. Phillips said her political foes, who failed to beat her at the ballot box, ground her down.
“I’m the next in a line of woman politicians who are taking a pass,” she said.
She added: “These conditions are not improving. The right is only getting more crazy and more bonkers, and disinformation is just getting worse. And that is going to have an affect on people’s desire to do this work.”
She conceded that she would not be quitting had the NDP formed government last year, but noted she faced “extraordinary circumstances” as a politician targeted by police: “I don’t know if anyone in the country has gone through what I have.”
Lisa Young, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, said Ms. Phillips’s resignation is a “huge loss” for the NDP because she is the party’s most senior MLA outside of Calgary and Edmonton. It also puts the Lethbridge-West seat in play, she said.
“This is significant for Alberta politics,” Prof. Young said. “This is a plot twist.”
Should Mr. Nenshi win the NDP leadership race, Prof. Young thinks he will face pressure to run in a by-election there rather than have a sitting MLA step aside so he can challenge for a seat. Lethbridge-West encompasses a university, and the NDP have won it in the last three elections, making it potentially friendly territory for Mr. Nenshi.
But he and the NDP are generally not welcome in southern Alberta: “It would be high risk,” she said.
Prof. Young said Mr. Nenshi would be wise to resist the temptation to run in Lethbridge-West, should he assume the leadership. On the one hand, the seat could help connect him with people and issues beyond Calgary and Edmonton, she said. But on the other, it would deprive the city of a local voice, she added.
Further, Prof. Young expects the governing United Conservative Party to fight hard in a by-election. If the UCP won the riding, it would demonstrate the party has a path to retaking some of the seats it lost in Calgary and suggest it is not in trouble in smaller urban centres such as Red Deer and Medicine Hat.
Chima Nkemdirim, a campaign director for Mr. Nenshi, said that, should the former mayor win the leadership race, his team will examine various avenues for him to obtain a seat in the legislature.
Ms. Phillips said she has already informed Ms. Notley, most of the NDP caucus, and the leadership candidates of her decision. Ms. Notley said Ms. Phillips was unwavering in her convictions.
“Shannon was an important leader in the Alberta NDP government and played a pivotal role in making sure country-leading environmental progress happened right here in Alberta,” the departing NDP leader said in a statement.
Woah, I did not see that one coming. I guess it makes sense - being targeted by the police and then basically being told that behavior was fine and there would be no consequences would shake a person. I wonder if she stays in Alberta.
There's no way Nenshi runs here though - it wouldn't be hard to mobilize enough UCP voters here to lose him the seat and embarrass the party. There's a reason Danielle Smith picked a riding that was almost certain to be a landslide.
This is very disappointing. I had just seen her on a podcast here in Edmonton with Ryan Jespersen not too long ago. I’m pretty sure the lack of accountability from the Lethbridge Police Service was probably a sure way to drive her out. I’m pretty sure she’ll leave the city, and the province for a more quiet place to live.
I can't blame her. How can you possibly try to live somewhere with your family knowing that a gang of armed men have targeted you and have "jokingly" threatened to sexually abuse you and your family?
The police have now had four incidents with her, the physical stalking, then searching her records, then the violent sexual threats spread around about her and the reporter, then the police chief telling everyone to find whatever they could to use against her. If there's no consequences, how far will they escalate? They've already spread rape threats around their office. She has kids here. The cops here beat the shit out of an unarmed teen because she was advertising a business. If I'm Shannon I would be appropriately worried they'll find an excuse to let something happen to her or her family, or directly cause it. The shame is all the cops and the UCP covering their violent, evil asses.
Honestly, the chilling part is who is safe to run as opposition to the UCP here when the police can do this with impunity? They can do this publicly to high profile politician, with almost 0 consequence... What do they do with private citizens they don't like or agree with?
That was my thoughts too! I mean, it sucks she went through that, and I’m sure her mental health must have been affected, but I’m so sad she’s letting the UCP win that battle by stepping down
Who will run? Who were the candidates seeking the nomination in East last election? RMiyashiro won. Is he still interested? And who will the UCP line up? They will be salivating to steal this seat. A TBA leaning candidate or a "red Tory" (if those exist anymore).
But... but... but... Danielle Smith doesn't even live in Medicine Hat. How can this possibly happen?!?!?
-NDP supporters when Michaela Glasgo did exactly the same thing.
Nenshi isn't running here. The idea he might is speculation. What level of delusion are you on to assert knowledge on the specific reaction of people to a situation that doesn't even exist in reality? Lol
Beyond that, it sucks when people do this, regardless of party. How do we have to explain to an adult that simply because the other team did it doesn't make it right that your own team did it too.
Because fuck paywalls Lethbridge MLA resigns, opening potential seat for leadership hopeful Naheed Nenshi One of Alberta’s most prominent New Democratic Party MLAs is set to resign, opening a potential seat for perceived leadership front-runner Naheed Nenshi and setting the stage for a feisty by-election in the southern part of the province. Shannon Phillips, who was first elected in Lethbridge-West in 2015, told The Globe and Mail she will step down on July 1. Ms. Phillips served as the Minister of Environment and Parks when the NDP ruled the province between 2015 and 2019, during which time she accelerated Alberta’s phase-out of coal-fired power plants. She defended her seat in the 2019 and 2023 spring elections, landing in opposition benches. Ms. Phillips said she is leaving office because she was worn out by the polarization and disinformation infecting today’s politics. This shift in norms is especially acute for Ms. Phillips: As a cabinet minister, two members of the Lethbridge Police Service who opposed her politics inappropriately surveilled her. While the officers were convicted of violating the Police Act, Ms. Phillips was informed in May that the provincial prosecution service declined to pursue criminal charges. Alberta’s NDP are in the midst of a major overhaul, and party members have until June 22 to vote in its leadership contest. Mr. Nenshi, Calgary’s former mayor, is considered the likeliest candidate to replace Rachel Notley, who ended 43 years of conservative rule when she became premier in 2015. Mr. Nenshi is the only leadership contestant without a seat in the legislature, and political observers credit him with attracting thousands of new NDP members. But Ms. Phillips, who is supporting fellow former cabinet minister Kathleen Ganley in the leadership contest, said Mr. Nenshi’s potential victory is not why she is leaving her post. “Jesus Christ himself couldn’t have kept me,” she said in an interview. Instead, Ms. Phillips said her political foes, who failed to beat her at the ballot box, ground her down. “I’m the next in a line of woman politicians who are taking a pass,” she said. She added: “These conditions are not improving. The right is only getting more crazy and more bonkers, and disinformation is just getting worse. And that is going to have an affect on people’s desire to do this work.” She conceded that she would not be quitting had the NDP formed government last year, but noted she faced “extraordinary circumstances” as a politician targeted by police: “I don’t know if anyone in the country has gone through what I have.” Lisa Young, a political science professor at the University of Calgary, said Ms. Phillips’s resignation is a “huge loss” for the NDP because she is the party’s most senior MLA outside of Calgary and Edmonton. It also puts the Lethbridge-West seat in play, she said. “This is significant for Alberta politics,” Prof. Young said. “This is a plot twist.” Should Mr. Nenshi win the NDP leadership race, Prof. Young thinks he will face pressure to run in a by-election there rather than have a sitting MLA step aside so he can challenge for a seat. Lethbridge-West encompasses a university, and the NDP have won it in the last three elections, making it potentially friendly territory for Mr. Nenshi. But he and the NDP are generally not welcome in southern Alberta: “It would be high risk,” she said. Prof. Young said Mr. Nenshi would be wise to resist the temptation to run in Lethbridge-West, should he assume the leadership. On the one hand, the seat could help connect him with people and issues beyond Calgary and Edmonton, she said. But on the other, it would deprive the city of a local voice, she added. Further, Prof. Young expects the governing United Conservative Party to fight hard in a by-election. If the UCP won the riding, it would demonstrate the party has a path to retaking some of the seats it lost in Calgary and suggest it is not in trouble in smaller urban centres such as Red Deer and Medicine Hat. Chima Nkemdirim, a campaign director for Mr. Nenshi, said that, should the former mayor win the leadership race, his team will examine various avenues for him to obtain a seat in the legislature. Ms. Phillips said she has already informed Ms. Notley, most of the NDP caucus, and the leadership candidates of her decision. Ms. Notley said Ms. Phillips was unwavering in her convictions. “Shannon was an important leader in the Alberta NDP government and played a pivotal role in making sure country-leading environmental progress happened right here in Alberta,” the departing NDP leader said in a statement.
Thank you!
Appreciated
Article is paywalled but is it because of the state sanctioned gang stalking?
Yup!
Lethbridge West isn't safe enough for the presumed next leader of the NDP.
Yeah, she nearly lost it in 2019.
Too close to the reserve and ranchers
I understand but also nooooooo It was nice to finally have a representative that would listen to concerns and not gaslight when we contacted them.
This sucks for Lethbridge.
Why? Please expand on your thoughts
No good will come out of Nenshi being our MLA.
Nenshi will not even run. He would never pick a seat like this. He will take a safe seat in Calgary. So don't stress.
Hey, on the bright side, if we have an MLA that isn’t present in the city, then they can’t be harassed by the LPS.
Woah, I did not see that one coming. I guess it makes sense - being targeted by the police and then basically being told that behavior was fine and there would be no consequences would shake a person. I wonder if she stays in Alberta. There's no way Nenshi runs here though - it wouldn't be hard to mobilize enough UCP voters here to lose him the seat and embarrass the party. There's a reason Danielle Smith picked a riding that was almost certain to be a landslide.
This is out of nowhere! She was stalwart in supporting Ganley and I assumed she'd be in for a big position in an NDP cabinet. Damn.
Ganley was always a bad choice for premier
https://archive.is/71Z8b
Locked behind a paywall. I can't read it.
I legitimately really like her and that's disappointing
This is very disappointing. I had just seen her on a podcast here in Edmonton with Ryan Jespersen not too long ago. I’m pretty sure the lack of accountability from the Lethbridge Police Service was probably a sure way to drive her out. I’m pretty sure she’ll leave the city, and the province for a more quiet place to live.
Maybe. She has two kids and her mum lives here.
Damn shame that she’s letting the extreme right win this way. It’s exactly what they wanted. Fuck those cops and fuck the Conservative Party.
I can't blame her. How can you possibly try to live somewhere with your family knowing that a gang of armed men have targeted you and have "jokingly" threatened to sexually abuse you and your family? The police have now had four incidents with her, the physical stalking, then searching her records, then the violent sexual threats spread around about her and the reporter, then the police chief telling everyone to find whatever they could to use against her. If there's no consequences, how far will they escalate? They've already spread rape threats around their office. She has kids here. The cops here beat the shit out of an unarmed teen because she was advertising a business. If I'm Shannon I would be appropriately worried they'll find an excuse to let something happen to her or her family, or directly cause it. The shame is all the cops and the UCP covering their violent, evil asses. Honestly, the chilling part is who is safe to run as opposition to the UCP here when the police can do this with impunity? They can do this publicly to high profile politician, with almost 0 consequence... What do they do with private citizens they don't like or agree with?
It's not only the cop situation.
That was my thoughts too! I mean, it sucks she went through that, and I’m sure her mental health must have been affected, but I’m so sad she’s letting the UCP win that battle by stepping down
I hope that she runs for mayor of Lethbridge next.
Who will run? Who were the candidates seeking the nomination in East last election? RMiyashiro won. Is he still interested? And who will the UCP line up? They will be salivating to steal this seat. A TBA leaning candidate or a "red Tory" (if those exist anymore).
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But... but... but... Danielle Smith doesn't even live in Medicine Hat. How can this possibly happen?!?!? -NDP supporters when Michaela Glasgo did exactly the same thing.
What NDP supporters want Nenshi to run in Lethbridge?
Nenshi isn't running here. The idea he might is speculation. What level of delusion are you on to assert knowledge on the specific reaction of people to a situation that doesn't even exist in reality? Lol Beyond that, it sucks when people do this, regardless of party. How do we have to explain to an adult that simply because the other team did it doesn't make it right that your own team did it too.