2017 Alberta Liberal Party leadership election

2017 Alberta Liberal Party leadership election

Date	June 4, 2017
Resigning leader	Raj Sherman
Won by	David Khan
Ballots	1
Candidates	2
Entrance fee	$5,000 [1]
Alberta Liberal Party leadership elections 1905 · 1924 · 1926 · 1930 ·1932 · 1937 · 1947 · 1958 · 1962 · 1966 · 1967 · 1969 · 1971 · 1974 · 1988 · 1994 · 2001 · 2004 · 2008 · 2011 · 2017 · 2022

An Alberta Liberal Party leadership election was held at the Alberta Liberal Party's 2017 Annual General Meeting in order choose a permanent successor to Raj Sherman who resigned on January 26, 2015. Sherman, who was under investigation over alleged illegal campaign donations, ^[2] indicated in a statement to the media that he was resigning as leader immediately for personal reasons and did not run for re-election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta at the provincial election held on May 5, 2015. ^[3] The leadership election was originally scheduled for April 23, 2016 but has been delayed for a year to give prospective candidates more time to organize. ^[4] David Khan was elected. ^[5]

Timeline

• January 26, 2015 – Raj Sherman announces his immediate resignation as leader. ^[6]
• February 1, 2015 – Party board of directors elects former leader David Swann as interim leader over Laurie Blakeman and rejects Blakeman's proposal for a merger with the Alberta Party, at least until after the next provincial election. ^[7] Swann is expected to lead the Liberals into the next provincial election, widely expected to be called for the spring of 2015. ^[8] The party says it will hold a leadership election within a year but will not be setting a date for the vote until the fall. ^{[8] [9]}
• April 7, 2015 – Alberta legislature is dissolved for a general election.
• May 5, 2015 – Alberta general election is held. Alberta New Democratic Party elects a majority government and brings the Progressive Conservative dynasty to an end after 44 years. The Liberals are reduced from 5 seats to 1 seat with Swann elected as the Liberals' only MLA.
• May 30, 2015 – Party holds its Annual General Meeting but does not schedule a leadership election. Swann indicates he wishes to see a leadership election "within a year" and that he intends to continue as interim party leader until then. ^[2]
• January 9, 2016 – Liberal executive met in Red Deer. ^[10] The executive voted to postpone the leadership election until 2017, in order to give candidates and the party more time to prepare, and decided unanimously to have Swann stay on as interim leader until then.
• January 16, 2017 – Nominations open. ^[11]
• March 1, 2017 – Nolan Crouse launches his leadership campaign.
• March 29, 2017 – Crouse withdraws two days before the nomination deadline leaving no candidates in the running.
• March 31, 2017 – Kerry Cundal and David Khan submit nomination papers; nominations close. ^[11]
• April 3, 2017 – Cundal and Khan nominations are both approved by the party and become official candidates. ^[12]
• April 8, 2017 – Candidates debate in Calgary. ^[11]
• May 6, 2017 – Candidates debate in Edmonton. ^[11]
• May 15, 2017 – Cutoff for new members to join the party. ^[11]
• May 27 – June 3, 2017 – Voting occurs through a province-wide online vote with all party members eligible to cast ballots. ^[11]
• June 4, 2017 – David Khan is announced as the new leader. ^[5]

Candidates

Kerry Cundal

Background

Cundal is a Calgary lawyer and was the Liberal Party of Canada candidate in the 2015 federal election in the riding of Calgary Signal Hill. ^[13] She has also served as an Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada adjudicator. Cundal is a human rights advocate and a former teacher. ^{[14] [15]}

Date nomination submitted: March 31, 2017

Date campaign launched: April 3, 2017

Supporters

MLAs:

Former MLAs: (2) Harry Chase (Calgary-Varsity, 2004–2012), ^[16] Nicholas Taylor ^[a] (Westlock-Sturgeon, 1986–1993; Redwater, 1993–1996; Alberta Liberal Party leader, 1974–1988; Senator for Alberta, 1996–2002) ^[16]

Federal politicians:

Former federal politicians:

Municipal politicians:

Former municipal politicians:

Other prominent supporters: (8) Brian Gold (former Liberal Party of Canada in Alberta president), ^[17] Kara Levis (National Women's Liberal Commission president), ^[18] former MLA candidates Pete Helfrich, Avinash Khangura, Mike Hanlon, Harbaksh Sekhon, Iqtidar Awan, and Ali Bin Zahid. ^[19]

Organizations:

Policies

Cundal is running on a "unite the centre" platform. She favours co-operation with the Alberta Party, as well as former Progressive Conservatives alienated by Jason Kenney's victory in that party's 2017 leadership race.

Other information

David Khan

Background

Khan is a Calgary lawyer who practices indigenous law. He was previously the party's 2014 by-election candidate in Calgary-West and 2015 provincial election candidate in Calgary-Buffalo. Prior to entering the race, Khan served as the party's executive vice-president. ^[20]

Date nomination submitted: March 31, 2017

Date campaign launched: April 3, 2017

Supporters

MLAs:

Former MLAs: (1) Nicholas Taylor ^[b] (Westlock-Sturgeon, 1986–1993; Redwater, 1993–1996; Alberta Liberal Party leader, 1974–1988; Senator for Alberta, 1996–2002) ^[21]

Federal politicians:

Former federal politicians: (1) Tommy Banks (Senator for Alberta, 2000–2011) ^[22]

Municipal politicians: (1) Kevin McLean (City of Grande Prairie councillor) ^[22]

Former municipal politicians: (2) Christine Brown (former City of St. Albert councillor), ^[22] Bob Russell (former City of St. Albert councillor; Alberta Liberal Party leader, 1971–1974) ^[22]

Other prominent supporters: (2) Grant Dunlop (former Alberta Liberal Party president), ^[23] Robbie Schuett (Liberal Party of Canada in Alberta president) ^[22]

Organizations:

Policies

Khan does not support co-operation with the Alberta Party or other provincial parties, however, he does support forging closer ties with the Liberal Party of Canada. ^[24] Khan's policy platform includes a basic income pilot project, elimination of the small business tax, proportional representation for the Legislature, more free votes for MLAs, bringing private schools into the public system, and establishing universal pharmacare for those under 24. ^[25]

Other information

If elected, Khan would be the first openly gay leader of a major Alberta political party. ^[26]

Withdrawn candidates

Nolan Crouse

Background

Crouse has served three terms as mayor of St. Albert, beginning in 2007. Previously, he was a city councillor for one term. Outside of politics, Crouse has held a variety of careers, including hockey coach, chemical technologist, and small business owner. Previously unaffiliated, Crouse joined the party in November 2016. ^{[27] [28]}

Date candidacy registered: January 17, 2017 ^{[29] [27]}

Date campaign launched: March 1, 2017 ^[30]

Date campaign withdrawn: March 29, 2017

Supporters

MLAs:

Former MLAs:

Federal politicians:

Former federal politicians:

Municipal politicians:

Former municipal politicians:

Other prominent supporters:

Organizations:

Policies:

Other information

Crouse, at the time the sole leadership candidate, withdrew two days before the deadline for candidate registration. He said his reasons for withdrawing "will be kept private". ^[31]

Declined

• Laurie Blakeman, former MLA (Edmonton-Centre, 1997–2015) and third place candidate in 2011 leadership election. ^[3] Had expressed an interest in becoming interim leader, and said that, while she is not interested in becoming permanent leader, she would not rule it out altogether. Blakeman proposed a merger with the Alberta Party. ^[32]
• Harpreet Gill, Liberal candidate in Edmonton-Mill Creek (2015). ^[33]
• Dan MacLennan, executive director of the Alberta Construction Safety Association, former president of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees, vice-president of constituencies for the Alberta Liberal Party. ^[34]
• Russell Scantlebury, Calgary resident and TEDxCalgary contributor. ^[35]
• Dr. David Swann, MLA (Calgary-Mountain View, 2004–present), interim leader of the party (2015–present), former permanent leader (2008–2011). ^[36]
• Donna Wilson, University of Alberta nursing professor, 2014 provincial candidate in Edmonton-Whitemud. ^[37] by-election and 2015 Provincial Candidate in Edmonton-Riverview. ^[38]

Results

Candidate	Votes	Percentage
David Khan	899	54.8%
Kerry Cundal	772	46.2%
Total	1,671	100%

Abstentions: 10 ^[39]

See also

• 2017 Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election

Notes

1. Taylor officially endorsed both candidates.
2. Taylor officially endorsed both candidates.

References

1. Himpe, John. "iNews880". iNews880. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
2. "Beleaguered Alberta Liberals face uncertain future after worst election showing in 33 years". National Post. June 1, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
3. "Raj Sherman quits as Alberta Liberal leader, won't seek third term as MLA". Edmonton Journal. January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
4. "Alberta Liberals put off leadership race for one year". Edmonton Journal. January 11, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
5. "David Khan chosen leader of the Alberta Liberal Party - Calgary". Cbc.ca. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
6. "Sherman resigns as Liberal leader, says he's "lived a lifetime in politics already"". Calgary Herald. January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
7. "Swann returns as interim Liberal leader, party rejects Alberta Party union". Calgary Herald. February 1, 2015. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
8. Schmidt, Colleen (February 1, 2015). "David Swann picked by Alberta liberals to lead party". CTV News. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
9. "David Swann is the new interim leader of the Alberta Liberal Party". Global News. February 2, 2015.
10. "Alberta Liberals to choose new leader next spring". Edmonton Journal. November 3, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
11. "It's official: Sandra Jansen is now running for Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership". Rabble.ca. October 13, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
12. Cotter, John. "Calgary lawyers approved as Alberta Liberal leadership candidates". Globalnews.ca. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
13. "Federal election candidates debate immigration in Calgary - Calgary - CBC News". Cbc.ca. October 5, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
14. Himpe, John. "iNews880". iNews880. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
15. Archived 2016-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
16. "Endorsements - Kerry Cundal for ALP". Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
17. @KCundal (April 25, 2017). "Thank you Brian Gold! Together, we will ensure that Albertans have a strong, practical, and centrist home to come to #ablib #ableg #abpoli" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
18. @mskaralevis (April 16, 2017). "I'm helping @KCundal reach @ABLiberal & Albertans in run for #alpldr Will you help? Kerry is committed to #unitethecentre discussions" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
19. "Endorsements - Kerry Cundal for ALP". May 25, 2017. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
20. "Calgary lawyer David Khan wants to lead Alberta's Liberal Party - Calgary". Cbc.ca. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
21. "Endorsements". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. May 27, 2017. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
22. "Endorsements". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. May 27, 2017. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
23. "Endorsements". davidkhan4alberta.ca. David Khan for Alberta. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
24. "David's Plan to Rebuild the Party - David Khan". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
25. "Policy Proposals - David Khan". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. Archived from the original on May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
26. Kayne, Evan (March 2017). "In our Community: David Khan, Alberta Liberal party leadership candidate". Gay Calgary Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
27. Henderson, Jen (January 17, 2017). "Mayor Crouse announces intentions to run for leader of the Alberta Liberal Party". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
28. "The search is on: Alberta Liberals looking for new leader - Edmonton". Cbc.ca. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
29. "Alberta Liberal Party | Elections Alberta". Elections.ab.ca. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
30. "Outgoing St. Albert mayor joins Alberta Liberal leadership race". Edmonton Journal . March 1, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
31. "Alberta Liberal leadership race in limbo after Crouse cancels campaign - Edmonton". Cbc.ca. March 30, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
32. "Laurie Blakeman Eyes Interim Alberta Liberal Leader Job". Huffington Post. Canadian Press. January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
33. "The search is on: Alberta Liberals looking for new leader". Ca.news.yahoo.com. January 16, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
34. "Former leader of Alberta's largest union seeks to rebuild the Liberal party". Calgary Herald . August 30, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
35. Scantlebury, Russell (December 21, 2016). "Going Forward; My New Path - A New Vision for the Alberta Liberal Party". Russellscantlebury.ca. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
36. "Alberta PCs, Liberals will likely look for new leaders next spring". Calgary Herald. October 2, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
37. "Report on the October 27, 2014 By-elections in: Calgary-Elbow, Calgary-Foothills, Calgary-West, and Edmonton-Whitemud" (PDF). Elections.ab.ca. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
38. "Alberta Election 2015: NDP's Lori Sigurdson wins Edmonton-Riverview riding". Globalnews.ca. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
39. "David Khan voted in as next Alberta Liberal leader". Edmonton Journal . June 5, 2017. Retrieved June 14, 2017.