Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi speaks during the Better Together town hall the NDP held in Red Deer on Aug. 27. (rdnewsNOW/Ian Gustafson)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

hoffman: albertans shared canadian pride

NDP health critic reflects on ‘Better Together’ tour, and start of fall legislative session

Oct 24, 2025 | 4:43 PM

As the fall session of Alberta’s Legislative Assembly gets underway, the Opposition NDP are also reflecting on what they heard during their summertime Better Together Tour.

The cross-province town hall tour was designed to give Albertans a chance to speak out against growing conversation around separatism, according to Sarah Hoffman, the party’s shadow minister for health.

“We heard from so many people about the importance of staying focused on what’s good about Canada, about fixing things around the edges which make us frustrated, and generally about how proud people are to be Canadian,” said Hoffman.

“People want to protect their CPP, they know that this flirting with separation is really bad for the economy, there were folks who talked about moving to Red Deer from other provinces to be closer to grandchildren, they talked about watching the Four Nations hockey game and feeling that pride when Canada won.”

She said people also talked about health care, education and affordability — things Albertans “are really struggling with right now,” she said.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

About 3,500 people in all registered for the 10 town halls that were held, including one in Red Deer on Aug. 27.

They also ran parallel with the UCP’s Alberta Next Panel, another series of travelling town halls which stopped in many communities around the province.

Speaking to rdnewsNOW and The Everything Red Deer Podcast in July, Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi called the Alberta Next Panel “a sham.”

“I think people really want Danielle Smith and everyone who’s flirting with separation to know where they stand, and that doesn’t mean we’re happy with everything that happens in this country all the time. Of course not,” Hoffman continued.

“We need to stand up and fight for Alberta’s interests within confederation, but you get a lot further by acknowledging that you’re part of something bigger and stronger than you are as an individual.”

Fighting for Alberta, to Hoffman, includes ensuring access to tidewater for provincial resources, and making sure Alberta gets its fair share of the health transfer.

“It’s absolutely possible to be part of a strong Canada with a strong Alberta, and that’s the loudest message we heard right across the province.”

Hoffman says legislation already introduced as part of the fall session misses the mark in terms of what people actually care about.

That includes negotiating with teachers on a contract with reasonable class sizes and fair working conditions, and not forcing them back to work, she said.

She called some legislation the UCP is introducing “posturing” and a chance to “huff up their chest on separation talk.”

That may include Bill 1, or the International Agreements Act, which, according to the UCP, provides a way for Alberta’s government to declare approval of international agreements.

The province issued an explainer Thursday, saying Bill 1, if passed, will:

• clarify that international agreements signed by the federal government with subject matter that falls within provincial jurisdiction are only binding and enforceable in Alberta if implemented under provincial legislation
• make it clear that Alberta’s government is not obligated to accept unfavourable terms or fulfill obligations agreed to at the federal level that do not align with Alberta’s interests
• provide Alberta with a clear opportunity to assert provincial priorities and safeguard the province’s constitutional jurisdiction

Asked how the NDP plans to be optimistic in a political landscape where the UCP have a majority and can pass anything, Hoffman pointed out they are the largest opposition in the province’s history.

“Our leader, Naheed Nenshi, is now in the chamber with us, and we’re thrilled to have him there. We will bring forward a number of emergency debate priorities, and we’re going to be calling on them to work with teachers to address the root issues [leading to the strike],” she said.

“We’ll have bills and motions to address workforce shortages in health care, protecting people’s income, including tips, and we want to make sure people in Alberta can afford to live here and have a great quality of life.”

Hoffman added the UCP are welcome to take their proposals and make them government bills, or vote for them when the NDP puts them forward.

“They haven’t done that yet, but hope springs eternal, even in the fall.”