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 the Canada Post onslaught could wounded turnout successful a provincial byelection that’s been called for a week earlier Christmas.

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

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

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

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

Nenshi says the Alberta NDP wants Elections Alberta to behaviour “robust elector outreach,” which helium says could see billboards and roadworthy signs crossed the riding, vigor ads and a telephone and substance 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 adjacent little than emblematic turnout,” Nenshi said successful the 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 due to the fact that voters did not cognize erstwhile and wherever to vote.”

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

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

The NDP campaigner is Rob Miyashiro portion the United Conservative banner volition 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 the Lethbridge-East constituency.

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

In effect to Nenshi’s earlier calls for Smith to denote the byelection, Smith questioned wherefore Nenshi hasn’t picked a riding to tally successful since taking implicit arsenic enactment person successful June.

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