ATHABASCA – For just a few hours on a Wednesday evening, the future of Alberta’s New Democratic Party will be in Athabasca’s Senior Centre, an event locals have called “quite the feather in our cap.”
All five NDP leadership candidates will be in town for a moderated meet-and-greet, hosted by former MLA Colin Piquette May 15, to give rural residents the opportunity to make their voices heard in the lead up to the June 22 leadership vote.
“All the candidates are going to be speaking, and there’s going to be an opportunity for some questions and answers,” said Piquette during a May 1 interview. “It’s purely informational so members, and the public, can find out more who’s going to be our leader and very well could be our next premier.”
Athabasca is one of two northern stops for Naheed Nenshi, Kathleen Ganley, Sarah Hoffman, Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, and Gil McGowan, who will be in Grand Prairie the day after for a similar event. Piquette said the decision to stop in Athabasca was indicative of a community that had often punched above its weight on the provincial stage, and a sign of the authenticity of the candidates.
The deadline for eligible voters to purchase a party membership has passed, meaning the five won’t be vying to attract new voters to their banner — at least not for 2024.
“Recruiting new members isn’t their first impulse right now — of course they want to sway existing members, but as possible future premiers I think they want to take the opportunity to get a good handle on our region,” said Piquette.
A strong history
Much of the work to get the event in place was done by Mandy Melnyk, a farmer from the Waskatenau area and a former NDP candidate herself. Melnyk ran for the party in the 2008 election, finishing third behind former MLA Jeff Johnson and Wildrose candidate Travis Olson.
“Democracy requires really good leadership and I think it’s exciting that we’re now a bigger time party,” said Melnyk. “People need to know that they have a choice, and I’m thrilled that the candidates have been so supportive and want to get to know us.”
Despite never sitting in the Legislature, Melnyk has remained an active and engaged voice in the party, serving as a founding member of the rural caucus and banging the New Democrat drum whenever she gets the chance.
“The reality is that our communities have unique needs different to those in the south, and we have a huge impact on the economy,” said Melnyk. “They need to learn about what it’s like to live rural. The definition of rural is often up for question, like some people think Okotoks is rural. Well, if you have to drive 20 minutes for a doctor instead of an hour and a half, that’s not rural.”
Athabasca’s NDP history goes back further than the 2000s. Leo Piquette, Colin’s father, represented the Athabasca-Lac La Biche riding from 1986 to 1989, during which he caused a stir by attempting to speak in French during a legislative sitting, which eventually led to the passing of the Languages Act in 1988, which allows members to speak in English or French in the Assembly.
Former Athabasca Mayor Colleen Powell was the elder Piquette’s campaign manager and has continued to be active in the party ever since. As a former municipal leader, Powell echoed the importance of provincial candidates getting to understand the important issues for all parts of the province.
“This shows that politics continues past the end of St. Albert. The NDP roots come from rural Saskatchewan, and some of the candidates come from small communities in Alberta, so I’m not surprised that they have an interest in our area,” said Powell in a May 2 statement. “Each candidate is coming here not only to gain support for their campaign, but to hear from us and what our challenges are.
“We have similar issues to the big cities, but less ability to overcome them … We are an able, resilient group of people, and I’m sure each candidate will see and appreciate that.”
