Nenshi says not sending voter cards due to postal strike could affect Lethbridge-West byelection

Alberta Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi says a determination not to message retired elector registration cards owed to nan Canada Post onslaught could wounded turnout successful a provincial byelection that’s been called for a week earlier Christmas.

Nenshi, who leads nan province’s NDP, says successful a missive to Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure that nan cards are “one of nan fewer remaining supports provided by Elections Alberta to beforehand entree to democracy.”

Premier Danielle Smith announced past week that a byelection for Lethbridge-West will beryllium held Dec. 18, to capable nan vacancy that opened up erstwhile erstwhile NDP MLA Shannon Phillips resigned July 1.

Nenshi had many times urged Smith to telephone nan byelection fixed some nan NDP and nan governing United Conservative Party candidates person been successful spot since September.

Alberta Elections notes connected its website that owed to nan Canada Post strike, “Where to Vote” cards will not beryllium mailed to electors, and warns that successful nan arena of a a continuing strike, electors choosing to ballot by typical ballot whitethorn person to usage different ways to nonstop them in, specified arsenic a courier.

Nenshi says nan Alberta NDP wants Elections Alberta to behaviour “robust elector outreach,” which he says could see advertisements and roadworthy signs crossed nan riding, power ads and a telephone and matter campaign.

“By-elections thin to person little elector turnout. The Premier’s cynical determination for a wintertime predetermination truthful adjacent to Christmas and Hanukkah risks an moreover little than emblematic turnout,” Nenshi said successful nan letter, which was posted to societal media precocious Monday.

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“It is incumbent connected Elections Alberta to guarantee that turnout is not debased because voters did not cognize erstwhile and wherever to vote.”

Nenshi said a scheme by Elections Alberta to rumor societal media posts, and ads done nan Lethbridge Herald “is constructive, but woefully inadequate.” He noted seniors are are little apt to entree accusation done societal media.

The result of nan byelection won’t impact nan authorities arsenic nan United Conservative Party presently has 49 seats successful nan 87-seat legislature compared pinch 37 for nan NDP.

The NDP campaigner is Rob Miyashiro while nan United Conservative banner will beryllium carried by John Middleton-Hope.

Miyashiro served connected Lethbridge metropolis assembly from 2013 to 2021 and ran against — and mislaid to — Nathan Neudorf successful past year’s provincial predetermination successful nan Lethbridge-East constituency.

Middleton-Hope is simply a sitting Lethbridge metropolis councillor and erstwhile constabulary chief.

In consequence to Nenshi’s earlier calls for Smith to denote nan byelection, Smith questioned why Nenshi hasn’t picked a riding to tally successful since taking complete arsenic statement leader successful June.

Nenshi has said he’d for illustration to tally location successful his location metropolis of Calgary alternatively than a riding for illustration Lethbridge-West conscionable to get a spot successful nan legislative assembly.