For an NDP outsider, it might be easier to ask the Vatican for sainthood than be accepted as a leadership candidate
Former Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi is quiet and elusive about a potential run for the provincial NDP leadership.
That’s because it’s not easy being orange, especially when you’ve always been purple.
We should hear from Nenshi on March 11. He can be expected to run — if the party accepts him, that is.
For an NDP outsider, it might be easier to ask the Vatican for sainthood.
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The NDP’s strict rules for seeking the party leadership likely explain why the ex-mayor is so quiet.
A person who has applied, intends to, or is already in the pipeline for approval isn’t supposed to say a public word about it.
“Prospective Leadership Contestants must be approved by the Leadership Race Approvals Committee before publicly disclosing their bid to run for leader,” say the party rules.
Some, such as labour leader Gil McGowan, trumpet their intentions anyway.
Nenshi sticks to the rule. That’s why his friends and allies all say: “Can’t tell you a thing.”
Weirdly, his silence is the best evidence that he’s filed papers and is now in the NDP pipeline, waiting for approval.
Nenshi faces an initial hurdle because he wasn’t an NDP member before Aug. 5, 2023.
Anybody who bought a card after that must get an exemption to run for the leadership.
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The NDP also pokes deep into a candidate’s past.
Those now officially running — four NDP MLAs — have been vetted before and sailed right through.
But here’s what Nenshi must disclose to the NDP:
Yes, a person could be refused for supporting another party in the past.
Especially bizarre in Nenshi’s case is the demand for a record of all social media activity.
He has 380,100 followers on X, formerly Twitter. His tweets number 61,800.
He’s still a social media giant more than two years after leaving politics.
Nenshi’s other public writings, statements and media appearances surely run into many thousands.
Candidates must pay the party a $1,500 “research fee” upon application. The party hires contractors to do the work.
If the NDP take their own rule seriously, the bill for scouring Nenshi’s past will be a lot higher than $1,500.
He will face more challenges when (or if) he is approved.
Leadership aspirants are not allowed to sell party memberships or raise money until they’re official.
The cut-off date for sales is April 22. That would leave Nenshi less than six weeks to sign up loyalists.
The four accepted candidates — Kathleen Ganley, Sarah Hoffman, Rakhi Pancholi and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse — have a clear head start.
After ballots are returned, the result will be announced June 22.
The pool of potential voters is fixed very early. There will be no last-minute fire sales like those favoured by conservative parties.
These rules are very self-protective. The NDP has a reason, however — David Parker of Take Back Alberta.
Parker said on X that with Leader Rachel Notley on the way out, “I will unequivocally prove that the Alberta NDP are anti-democratic.
“We will sell more memberships in their party than the unions and the green activists combined, and they will refuse to accept the results of their own leadership race.”
That’s the usual grandiose bluster from Parker. He’s always promising things he can’t do, such as firing school officials.
But his warning put the NDP on high alert for enemy intruders. It would be strange indeed if Nenshi gets caught in the net.
Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald
X: @DonBraid
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