Kathleen Ganley spoke with residents in Lethbridge during her campaign to become the next leader of the Alberta NDP on February 16, 2024. (Photo: Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Alberta NDP leadership candidate Kathleen Ganley makes campaign stop in Lethbridge

Feb 16, 2024 | 2:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – One of the people hoping to lead Alberta’s second-largest political party is looking to gain supporters in Lethbridge.

Kathleen Ganley, who was the first to announce her bid for Alberta NDP leadership, spoke with reporters at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organizations before a number of meet-and-greets with groups in the city.

“I think that we have the team built around us and the experience to do that, to take on Danielle Smith. I think that we will present a competent plan to Albertans to move forward,” said Ganley, who also serves as the MLA for Calgary-Mountain View.

One of the key components of Ganley’s campaign is the economy. She said one proposal would put more money back into the pockets of lower and middle-income Albertans.

“It is a proposal that would increase the personal income tax exemption to $26,000. That means no one living in poverty would pay income taxes. It also means that 2.5 million Albertans, those earning less than $148,000 a year, would get a break,” she added.

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The leadership hopeful looks to potentially separate the Alberta NDP from the federal NDP.

It is a move that would need to be approved by provincial party members first, but Ganley said it could happen.

“One of the big issue we hear from people is they don’t feel the federal party represents their values. They don’t think that it is helpful to us and our goal of winning elections here in Alberta and they would like to not be associated with the federal party anymore,” said Ganley. “We are absolutely open to having those conversations.”

So far, three people are officially confirmed to be running to lead the Alberta NDP. Along with Ganley, Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Rakhi Pancholi and Edmonton-Glenora MLA Sarah Hoffman are in contention.

Ganley said she has worked closely alongside Pancholi and Hoffman for the last several years and believes that they are both highly-qualified and likable people. However, she believes that she has the strongest economic focus of the three.

Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips joined Ganley during her stop in the city. She announced earlier this month that she would serve as the co-chair in Ganley’s campaign.

When she decided to not run for leadership herself, she said Ganley stepped up as a candidate who believed in many of the same things that she does.

“She has a plan to win, she’s focused on the economy, and she’s focused on growing the party in the ways that we need to win outside of Edmonton, in particular, but also Edmonton and Calgary. We need to be able to win in small cities like Lethbridge,” said Phillips. “I was looking for a concrete plan and a disciplined and focused plan to be able to do that, and Kathleen has that.”

Back in January, current Alberta NDP leader and former premier Rachel Notley announced that she would be stepping down.

The party looks to select its new leader on June 22, 2024.

READ MORE: Former premier Rachel Notley stepping down as leader of Alberta NDP

READ MORE: Kathleen Ganley announces NDP leadership campaign

READ MORE: Two-term MLA from Edmonton joins Alberta NDP leadership race

READ MORE: Sarah Hoffman announces bid for Alberta NDP leadership

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