2017 Alberta Liberal Party leadership election

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]

2017 Alberta Liberal Party leadership election
DateJune 4, 2017
Resigning leaderRaj Sherman
Won byDavid Khan
Ballots1
Candidates2
Entrance Fee$5,000[1]

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] Nick Taylor[lower-alpha 1] (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: (2) Brian Gold (former Liberal Party of Canada in Alberta president),[17] Kara Levis (National Women's Liberal Commission president)[18]
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.[19]

Date nomination submitted: March 31, 2017
Date campaign launched: April 3, 2017
Supporters
MLAs:
Former MLAs: (1) Nick Taylor[lower-alpha 2] (Westlock-Sturgeon, 1986–1993; Redwater, 1993–1996; Alberta Liberal Party leader, 1974–1988; Senator for Alberta, 1996–2002)[20]
Federal politicians:
Former federal politicians: (1) Tommy Banks (Senator for Alberta, 2000–2011)[21]
Municipal politicians: (1) Kevin McLean (City of Grande Prairie councillor)[21]
Former municipal politicians: (2) Christine Brown (former City of St. Albert councillor),[21] Bob Russell (former City of St. Albert councillor; Alberta Liberal Party leader, 1971–1974)[21]
Other prominent supporters: (2) Grant Dunlop (former Alberta Liberal Party president),[22] Robbie Schuett (Liberal Party of Canada in Alberta president)[21]
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.[23] 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.[24]
Other information
If elected, Khan would be the first openly gay leader of a major Alberta political party.[25]

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.[26][27]

Date candidacy registered: January 17, 2017[28][26]
Date campaign launched: March 1, 2017[29]
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".[30]

Declined

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

Abstentions: 10[38]

See also

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

References
  1. Himpe, John. "iNews880". iNews880. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  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 2017-06-14.
  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. 2016-10-13. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  12. Cotter, John. "Calgary lawyers approved as Alberta Liberal leadership candidates". Globalnews.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  13. "Federal election candidates debate immigration in Calgary - Calgary - CBC News". Cbc.ca. 2015-10-05. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  14. Himpe, John. "iNews880". iNews880. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  15. Archived 2016-09-16 at the Wayback Machine
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-04-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  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. "Calgary lawyer David Khan wants to lead Alberta's Liberal Party - Calgary". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  20. "Endorsements". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. 2017-05-27. Archived from the original on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  21. "Endorsements". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. 2017-05-27. Archived from the original on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  22. "Endorsements". davidkhan4alberta.ca. David Khan for Alberta. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  23. "David's Plan to Rebuild the Party - David Khan". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  24. "Policy Proposals - David Khan". Davidkhan4alberta.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  25. Kayne, Evan (March 2017). "In our Community: David Khan, Alberta Liberal party leadership candidate". Gay Calgary Magazine. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  26. Henderson, Jen (2017-01-17). "Mayor Crouse announces intentions to run for leader of the Alberta Liberal Party". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved 2017-01-18.
  27. "The search is on: Alberta Liberals looking for new leader - Edmonton". Cbc.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  28. "Alberta Liberal Party | Elections Alberta". Elections.ab.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  29. "Outgoing St. Albert mayor joins Alberta Liberal leadership race". Edmonton Journal. 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  30. "Alberta Liberal leadership race in limbo after Crouse cancels campaign - Edmonton". Cbc.ca. 2017-03-30. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  31. "Laurie Blakeman Eyes Interim Alberta Liberal Leader Job". Huffington Post. Canadian Press. January 28, 2015. Retrieved January 29, 2015.
  32. "The search is on: Alberta Liberals looking for new leader". Ca.news.yahoo.com. 2017-01-16. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  33. "Former leader of Alberta's largest union seeks to rebuild the Liberal party". Calgary Herald. 2016-08-30. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  34. Scantlebury, Russell (2016-12-21). "Going Forward; My New Path - A New Vision for the Alberta Liberal Party". Russellscantlebury.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-07-11. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  35. "Alberta PCs, Liberals will likely look for new leaders next spring". Calgary Herald. October 2, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  36. "Report on the October 27, 2014 By-elections in: Calgary-Elbow, Calgary-Foothills, Calgary-West, and Edmonton-Whitemud" (PDF). Elections.ab.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  37. "Alberta Election 2015: NDP's Lori Sigurdson wins Edmonton-Riverview riding". Globalnews.ca. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
  38. "David Khan voted in as next Alberta Liberal leader". Edmonton Journal. 2017-06-05. Retrieved 2017-06-14.
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