Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley is among the many commenting on the resignation of Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips. (Photo: Rachel Notley)

By David Opinko

Reactions pour in for Lethbridge-West MLA following resignation

Jun 10, 2024 | 3:09 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Several dignitaries in Alberta have expressed their gratitude and support for Shannon Phillips.

The MLA for Lethbridge-West announced on Monday, June 10, 2024 that she would be resigning from office effective July 1.

Lethbridge Mayor Blaine Hyggen

“On behalf of Lethbridge City Council, I want to thank Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips for her dedicated public service to our community and to our province.

Shannon and I have always had the common goal of supporting our city. Serving as an MLA is an extremely demanding job and I respect Shannon’s determination.

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She was a major supporter and advocate for the Cavendish Farms Centre leisure facility on the westside and for the University of Lethbridge Science Commons building. Both facilities will have longstanding significance for our city.

Her years of work as Minister of Environment and Parks and as Minister Responsible for the Status of Women in the Alberta Cabinet had major impacts across Alberta.

As always, Lethbridge City Council will continue to advocate for the supports we need in our city to best serve our residents. We look forward to the coming by-election process and will be eager to work with whomever succeeds the seat as Lethbridge-West MLA to ensure Lethbridge’s priorities are met.”

Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley

“Shannon Phillips is one of the smartest people in politics in Canada today. She’s always been a fighter for regular folks, always knowing which side she’s on. She was an important leader in our government and was critical in making sure country-leading progress on the environment got done right here in Alberta. As she steps down from her role as MLA in Lethbridge-West, I want to thank her for her years of service and leadership. Wishing you all the best, Shannon.”

Former Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman

“@SPhillipsAB has been an outstanding MLA for #Lethbridge. Thank you Shannon for your incredible work representing us. And thank you for your work serving Albertans as a cabinet minister in government and as a key critic in opposition. Shannon will be missed #yql #abpoli“

Alberta NDP Leadership Hopeful Kathleen Ganley

“Shannon Phillips is a powerhouse. Smart, articulate, and dedicated, she has boundless compassionate for those who deserve it, but no tolerance for fools who would try to sway her from defence of the public interest. She is someone who changed the world for the better.

I have had the incredible privilege to stand shoulder to shoulder with her while we fought to make this world just a little bit better, a little bit fairer, and a little bit easier for people who have to struggle a little too much. I am incredibly grateful for her friendship and for all the things I have learned from her. We survived good times and hard times together – we laughed, cried, and so much more. We have seen each other and our best and worst. While many would say it is her smarts that make her exceptional, I think it’s her courage.

Shannon lost her first election for the NDP. She got right back up again and fought until she won. She overcame what would have been insurmountable odds to anyone else to hold that seat in 2019, and again in 2023. She managed to get wildly opposing interests and view points to agree on a signature piece of climate policy that actually made real change in the world. She has demonstrated incredible grit, it is breathtaking to witness.

She did it while raising children and commuting over 500 kilometres to work. She did it while the worst kind of people slandered her and threatened her. She did it while she was surveilled by the very people who are supposed to protect us. Politics is hard, but her journey was harder than most, and she navigated it with grace, and she never lost her North Star – the people she wanted to help and the change she wanted to make.

Putting an idea out into the world and standing behind it is incredibly courageous. Standing behind your values, even when they aren’t popular is hard. Doing is hard and criticizing is far too easy, but the doing is how we change the world.

Shannon changed the world for the better, that is a legacy no one can ever take from her. But she also changed me for the better, and I will forever be grateful.”

Alberta NDP Leadership Hopeful Sarah Hoffman

“I’m sure going to miss @SPhillipsAB. We worked together in Alberta’s first NDP cabinet. I remember having our head shots done together the day before we were sworn in. We joked about wanting to look old enough for the jobs we were about to have.

While she was not even 40, Shannon took on a challenging portfolio. It was one that previous Alberta governments had often ignored or saw as a hurdle. But Shannon took the opportunity to expand investment in renewables, bring in energy efficiency initiatives, phase out coal, reduce methane emissions, establish the Castle Provincial Park, and show Canada that Alberta could be climate leaders.

Shannon is a thoughtful colleague. When I expanded women’s reproductive health services and brought in bubble zones around abortion clinics, Shannon gave me a beautiful scarf as a thank you. It was very touching. I was proud… and she was too. As women who got involved in the NDP in university, attended rallies at the legislature, worked for the caucus, donated to the Olga Blondheim fund, and ran because we need more young women in politics… this was one of the things that bound us to our party.

At Shannon’s last nomination she gave a riveting speech. She thanked all of the volunteers and donors for continuing to have her back. She said that anyone on her senior volunteer team could be the candidate and win. It’s hard to imagine Lethbridge-West without Shannon. But I am happy for Shannon… and I am excited to knock in Lethbridge again very soon to ensure we win it for a fourth time in a row.”

Alberta NDP Leadership Hopeful Naheed Nenshi

“Shannon Phillips exemplifies what it means to be a public servant and to stand up for what you believe in. I had the great fortune of working with Shannon when she was Minister of Environment, Parks & Climate Change on some very important projects, including flood mitigation for Calgary. She fought to protect Albertans then and has continued to do so throughout her time in office. I’ve been lucky to call Shannon a friend and have benefitted from her advice and insights.

During her time in politics, she’s dealt with things no one should have to. While I understand and appreciate Shannon’s reasoning for stepping down, it’s disheartening that the public discourse and outright intimidation from police officers in her own city means we are losing an incredible female public servant. Alberta is undoubtedly better for her service. @SPhillipsAB, thank you.”

READ MORE: Shannon Phillips resigns as Lethbridge-West MLA

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