UCP supporters at Danielle Smith fundraiser dismiss Nenshi threat

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A Naheed Nenshi-led NDP poses little menace to the Smith authorities, UCP supporters at a Calgary fundraiser for his or her social gathering stated Wednesday.

Attendees on the sold-out $500-a-plate Chief’s Dinner, held on the BMO Centre, stated they’re assured the political trajectory of Premier Danielle Smith will fend off any problem from the NDP, together with one spearheaded by the previous Calgary mayor, thought-about by many to be the NDP management race’s frontrunner.

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“He brings a complete new dynamic … I’ve nothing however love for (Nenshi),” stated Leela Aheer, former UCP MLA for Chestermere- Rocky View and Chestermere-Strathmore.

“However you’re seeing a girl who rises to the event.”

Whereas Nenshi brings identify recognition to the NDP, the broader political battle “is greater than only a recognition contest. Persons are searching for energy and compassion and for those who don’t converse that, you’ll lose folks,” stated Aheer, who strongly opposed Smith’s concepts throughout 2022’s UCP management contest.

Metres away, a protracted pre-dinner queue of UCP trustworthy lined as much as have their image taken with a smiling Smith.

One in every of them was Raj Grover, CEO of hashish big Excessive Tide, who stated the Smith authorities’s assist for his business and others make her a strong guess, even within the event of a Nenshi NDP management.

“On the very least, (the NDP) wants identify recognition however I’m unsure it’s sufficient on this case,” stated Grover.

“Alberta obtained a style of an NDP authorities and has moved on to Premier Smith.”

An advisory on the dinner issued Tuesday by the UCP stated the earlier yr’s occasion attracted 950 attendees, a quantity simply eclipsed on Wednesday by an attendance of 1,300 — and is indicative of the governing social gathering’s energy.

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“This sold-out occasion underscores the rising assist for Danielle Smith and the UCP crew,” it acknowledged.

UCP faring nicely in public opinion

Organizers stated the occasion raised $663,000 — twice that of final yr’s chief’s dinner — and is proof Calgary, although received narrowly by the NDP in final yr’s provincial election, stays a UCP stronghold.

That upbeat tone comes amid an financial increase pushed by surging oil costs and plentiful job alternatives that in 2023 drew the most important migration the province has seen since 1981.

That’s additionally fueled larger challenges in affordability, led by dramatic will increase in the price of renting and buying properties.

In her keynote deal with, Smith steered away from any point out of Nenshi or the NDP management race however cited current polls displaying glowing outcomes for her social gathering.

“Usually I don’t touch upon polls, however you already know what – I feel the pollsters have it proper this time,” she advised the social gathering trustworthy.

And he or she took intention at what she known as disastrous NDP-linked hurt discount insurance policies meant to scale back the demise toll of the opioid epidemic that noticed its greatest variety of fatalities final yr underneath her authorities.

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“For what looks like many years, for some cause, we conservatives conceded the bottom and allowed harmful NDP insurance policies to take root in Calgary in Edmonton,” stated Smith.

“Insurance policies that might ultimately poison our streets and result in extra hardships for thus many.”

Current opinion polls present the UCP in straightforward command with assist exceeding their NDP foes by double digits, even with Nenshi on the opposition social gathering’s helm.

An Abacus ballot performed in late March reveals a hypothetically Nenshi-led NDP trailing Smith’s UCP 38 per cent to 53 per cent, with the survey indicating little curiosity amongst UCP voters to modify, regardless of who leads the official opposition.

Early final month, a Leger ballot discovered a Nenshi NDP would increase assist for the social gathering by a web achieve of eight per cent amongst Albertans, with 25 per cent of UCP voters contemplating that prospect.

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NDP management hopeful Rakhi Pancholi withdrew from the race late final month and threw her assist behind Nenshi, saying the previous Calgary mayor’s candidacy had greater than doubled the membership of the social gathering.

However former Calgary-Glenmore UCP MLA Whitney Issik stated she’s heard little enthusiasm for Nenshi in Calgary and questioned how he could make a breakthrough for the NDP within the province’s rural ridings.

“Do we wish solely an city authorities — Danielle Smith speaks to each city and rural,” stated Issik.

“I respect Naheed however I’m not listening to ‘I can hardly await him (as premier).’”

‘They’ve by no means overwhelmed him’: Nenshi poses actual menace to UCP

The UCP is quietly involved in regards to the robust probability Nenshi will prevail within the NDP management race, stated Mount Royal College political scientist Duane Bratt.

“They are saying ‘carry him on, carry him on’ however they’ve by no means overwhelmed him,” stated Bratt, including Nenshi poses an actual menace within the essential electoral battleground of Calgary.

“Beating (NDP management contender) Sarah Hoffman in Calgary can be so much simpler.”

One UCP supporter at Wednesday’s dinner stated the UCP can’t take a Nenshi-piloted NDP as a right, notably for his potential to win Calgary seats.

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“For certain, he’s undoubtedly a menace, by no means underestimate it,” stated Shannon Warren, who owns a staffing agency in Calgary.

“He does have a reasonably large following and also you’re seeing it with (NDP membership development).”

However earlier than she tucked right into a dinner of beef brief ribs, UCP loyalist Caroline Staples scoffed on the notion of an ascendant NDP underneath Nenshi.

“I appreciated Rachel Notley and he’s not a Rachel Notley, that’s for certain,” she stated, including Nenshi’s report of tax hikes at Calgary metropolis corridor will canine him.

Even so, a packed gathering for Nenshi in Edmonton on March 26 seemingly deflates UCP hopes the previous Calgary mayor can’t retain NDP assist within the provincial capital, stated Bratt.

However for now, the UCP is doing nicely sufficient in public opinion, partly as a result of they haven’t adopted by on unpopular insurance policies, like an Alberta Pension Plan and a provincial police power, stated Bratt.

“(Smith) has talked about (doing) some fairly controversial stuff however hasn’t really performed something that might damage her,” he stated.

“And amongst UCP voters there’s been no backlash for her violating her promise of a tax minimize.”

Nenshi’s working for the NDP’s high job in opposition to MLAs Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, Kathleen Ganley and Sarah Hoffman and Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan.

The UCP’s Edmonton Chief’s Dinner is slated for April 16. Final yr, that occasion attracted a crowd of 1,100.

BKaufmann@postmedia.com

X (Twitter): @BillKaufmannjrn

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