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Speaking ahead of the event with Postmedia Friday, the three-term MLA said she was energized to lead a party she believes is poised to fix health care challenges, combat climate change, and address the housing crisis
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Edmonton-Glenora NDP MLA Sarah Hoffman officially launched her bid to replace Rachel Notley in her home riding with a roomful of supporters Sunday.
Speaking ahead of the event with Postmedia Friday, the three-term MLA said she was energized to lead a party she believes is poised to fix health care challenges, combat climate change, and address the housing crisis.
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“These are all issues that we need NDP values to address,” she said.
The announcement comes after Calgary-Mountain View NDP MLA and former justice minister Kathleen Ganley officially launched her candidacy Monday, and Edmonton-Whitemud MLA Rakhi Pancholi entered the fray Thursday with an argument against the federal consumer carbon tax.
Hoffman agreed with Pancholi that the federal Liberals’ carve out for heating oil has effectively killed political support for a consumer carbon tax first championed in the province by Notley.
“It’s done. It’s over.”
“I don’t believe that we can move forward with a consumer carbon tax here in Alberta and address climate change. I don’t think there’s buy in,” she said.
Hoffman officially launched her campaign Sunday morning at the Woodcroft Community League, 13915-115 Ave NW, in west Edmonton. Nathan Ip, MLA for Edmonton-South West, introduced Hoffman, who stood in front of a crowd of supporters holding placards and cheering loudly. She spoke at a podium with a slogan that read ‘Health, Climate, Housing.’
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Speaking with Postmedia, Hoffman didn’t offer specific details about her policy proposals, but said polluter-pay will be “one of the driving values,” of her platform, echoing Pancholi’s interest in strengthening the province’s large-emitter carbon tax program that has been in place.
Hoffman said if her party had offered better ideas to address health care, climate change and housing, it could have made “a big” vote difference in close Calgary ridings that may have cost New Democrats the 2023 election – in some cases by less than 200 votes.
“We need to be courageous enough to talk about the things that people say you can’t talk about in Alberta.”
The election period saw air quality alerts in the midst of a record-breaking wildfire season. Hoffman said even in Calgary, she regularly heard concerns about it on the doorsteps.
“I think we should have talked about climate change in the election. That’s an example of something that I think differentiates me from the path we took over the last four years,” she said.
Casting an eye back, Hoffman said the party should not have shied away from proposing a temporary two per cent rent cap increase during the election.
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However, she said she’s not turning her back on the NDP’s corporate tax hike proposal. During the election, the party pitched bringing it up to 11 per cent – almost back in line with the 12 per cent rate before the UCP took power and lowered it to eight per cent.
“I believe that corporations need to pay their fair share,” said Hoffman, adding that New Democrats shouldn’t be afraid to talk about it for the next three years.
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While Ganley has said concerns the provincial party needs to distance itself from its federal counterparts are valid, Hoffman dismissed the idea.
“I’m not going to try to trick people into voting for me, I’m going to own who I am.”
“I’m not a Liberal, but we get a we get tied to them all the time by conservatives. I am proud to be a New Democrat. I’m proud of the fact that we have medicare because of the NDP.”
Jagmeet Singh’s national NDP holds only two seats in Alberta, and less than three weeks prior, in the same central Edmonton community hall where Hoffman launched her leadership bid, he gathered supporters to door knock across a Liberal-held riding that promises to be a battleground in the next federal national election.
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“I think if we want a better federal party, we need to send more MPs from the prairies to be part of the federal party,” said Hoffman.
The former Alberta health minister and deputy premier may draw criticism, along with Ganley, for decisions made at Notley’s cabinet table, but Hoffman highlighted harm reduction initiatives, the establishment of “bubble zones” protecting women’s health clinics from harassment, and getting the construction of the $1.4-billion Calgary Cancer Centre off the ground.
Former teacher, Edmonton Public School board chair
Before entering politics, Hoffman worked as a teacher. She sat as chair of the Edmonton Public School board and told Postmedia since she entered that local school board election, she’s had naysayers.
“Women like me aren’t supposed to be in politics. I’m fat. I’m sassy, and I’m really bad at pretending to be something that I’m not, so I’m going to lean into being who I am,” she said.
“You can stand up for your values, you can get a mandate and then you can govern to do the things you said you’re going to do, and that’s what I want to bring to this leadership race.”
Others rumoured to be running include first-term MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, and former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi.
On Friday, Edmonton-City Centre MLA David Shepherd put speculation about his intentions to rest, saying in a social media thread that while he had planned on running, ongoing health challenges mean he won’t pursue leadership.
Party members will pick a new leader on June 22.
lijohnson@postmedia.com
X: @reportrix
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