Sarah Hoffman, the first nominated candidate on the Alberta NDP leadership ballot, has named her three policy chairs for the campaign themes of health, climate, and housing.
“I’m grateful to these three extraordinary Albertans for lending me their good advice and bringing people together to discuss the best solutions to critical issues facing our province,” said Hoffman, former Deputy Premier and Minister of Health.
The chair for Hoffman’s health policy group is Dr. Jon Meddings. Meddings is the former Dean of the University of Calgary’s Cumming School of Medicine, former chair of the University of Alberta Department of Medicine, and an award-winning researcher.
“I was very pleased that Sarah asked me to take on this work and it’s my pleasure to help. Our healthcare system in Alberta is facing several serious challenges, and I’m convening experts from each of the areas in crisis to determine the best way forward,” Meddings said.
Hoffman says the climate group will be led by Hon. Marlin Schmidt. Schmidt is the former Minister of Advanced Education, former Critic for Environment and Parks, and an environmental scientist by training.
“Climate change is the great challenge of our time, and the consequences are happening right now,” said Schmidt. “Unprecedented wildfires and catastrophic droughts are already upon us. We need to take urgent action to reduce carbon emissions and I will propose policy tools to do that.”
Finally, Hoffman has selected Hon. Lori Sigurdson to lead the housing group. Sigurdson is the former Minister of Housing, former Critic for Mental Health and Addiction, and a social worker.
Sigurdson says, “So many Albertans are struggling to make ends meet and their biggest single cost is housing. Edmonton and Calgary have the fastest rising rents in the entire country. We need to control soaring rents, and dramatically increase our affordable housing stock. I’m very excited to take on this policy work for Sarah’s campaign.”
Hoffman launched her campaign in front of hundreds of supporters on Feb. 11. She was the third candidate to launch, but first to raise the $60,000 entrance fee, first to collect all the required nomination signatures, and first officially on the ballot. New Democrats continue to come forward to endorse Hoffman, from former leader Ray Martin and prominent labour lawyer Barrie Chivers, to former Calgary MLAs Graham Sucha and Anam Kazim, to longtime volunteers and activists from across the province.
“I’m honoured by the support and enthusiasm I’ve gotten from Albertans right across the province, from Medicine Hat to Peace River,” Hoffman said. “I’ve won five elections in a row by working hard and staying true to our NDP values. That’s how I plan on winning this one.”
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Kathleen Ganley, Rakhi Pancholi and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse are also running for the leadership of the Alberta NDP.
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