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Alberta’s new Opposition leader tells Harvard Media News he will work with municipalities and industry while rejecting separatist politics
The Alberta legislature is set to reconvene next month with a new sitting leader of the Official Opposition, the Alberta NDP. Harvard Media News was granted exclusive access to Naheed Nenshi, the party’s recently elected leader.
The former Calgary mayor secured a seat in the legislature after winning a byelection in Edmonton-Strathcona. He now heads the largest opposition caucus in Alberta’s history.
The fall sitting comes at a critical moment for both Alberta and Canada, with debates looming over interprovincial and international trade, oil pipelines, education and Alberta’s role within Confederation.
Here is the unabridged interview with Nenshi. Harvard Media News made multiple attempts to arrange a similar interview with Premier Danielle Smith but were told her schedule would not allow it.
Interview with Naheed Nenshi
Q: You’re well known in Calgary, fairly well known in Edmonton, but much less so in rural Alberta. How do you intend to expand your reach beyond the major centres?
A: I’ve been traveling across the province for the last year, including Fort McMurray, talking to Albertans from every walk of life. Our Better Together Summer is about getting me and our MLAs out to meet people. We want to hear directly from them on affordability, health care, education and jobs. That’s why we go beyond town halls—parades, festivals, exhibitions, community events, dog parks, people’s doorsteps. We’re gathering information and preparing for the fall session.
Q: You called early in your leadership campaign for more separation between the Alberta NDP and the federal party. Are you still committed to that?
A: At our convention, members agreed to make federal membership optional. We were already independent in policy and finances, and this was the next step. We remain committed to our values, but we welcome people who support any federal party. Many Conservatives federally don’t see themselves in the UCP and vote for us provincially. We believe we reflect the values of mainstream Albertans more than the increasingly extreme UCP.
Q: Alberta separation remains a talking point, even though polls show little appetite for it. Why is Premier Danielle Smith pursuing it?
A: By her own words, Smith is throwing a bone to separatists in her party to save her political skin. It hasn’t worked. Instead, she’s created uncertainty that is driving investment away. We know what happened to Quebec when it flirted with separation—head offices left, and the economy still hasn’t recovered. She is gambling with Alberta’s future. Albertans are proud Canadians. We want to make Canada work better, not throw tantrums.
Q: The UCP The UCP has 46 voting members, with 44 required to pass legislation which is the smallest majority in Alberta history. How will you hold them to account?
A: We’ll focus on jobs, the cost of living, health care, education and safety. Their majority is the smallest in Alberta history. They’ve already lost members to floor-crossing and byelections. If three more leave, politics will get very interesting. But this isn’t about politics—it’s about showing Albertans they deserve better.
Q: Fort McMurray is seen as a conservative stronghold, but it is also diverse and unionized. Do you see an opening?
A: Fort McMurray is more complex than stereotypes suggest. People want the same things as anywhere else: jobs, affordability, good services. They want respect for the hard work that powers our economy. We’ll work with municipalities instead of treating them with contempt, and we’ll push for more of Fort McMurray’s wealth to come back as services and infrastructure. My caucus and I will spend more time in the region, working with local members and potential candidates.
Q: Rachel Notley helped push the Trans Mountain expansion through. Do you support more pipelines, such as a proposed Fort McMurray–Hudson Bay project?
A: Rachel deserves credit for TMX, and I fought for it too as Calgary’s mayor. It’s one of the few things keeping Alberta’s budget afloat. The UCP hasn’t advanced one mile of tidewater pipeline. We need more projects, and fighting Ottawa doesn’t build them. We should unite private proponents, Indigenous communities, governments and citizens. There’s public support and the Major Projects Office is in Calgary—we can’t waste that opportunity.
Q: The NDP has been seen as anti-oil in Fort McMurray. What’s your stance?
A: We support oil and want Fort McMurray to thrive. Oil will be in demand for a long time, and Canadian energy is key to global security. We shouldn’t pit industries against each other. Alberta has the talent to show the world we can supply safe, secure energy while reducing emissions. Industry is already innovating—they deserve a government that partners with them.
Q: Do you back carbon capture and storage?
A: Yes. It’s a chance to decarbonize and attract industries. Pathways has shown its importance. But Smith’s government has failed to create a trusted regulatory process. We would work with Albertans, Indigenous leaders and industry to build a successful CCUS sector.
Q: As oilsands mines reach their limits, would you support new ones or expansion?
A: Production is already at record levels, and the world needs more responsible energy. Expansion is possible if we consult properly and meet reclamation commitments. Transportation remains a bottleneck, so TMX expansion is the most obvious next step. We’d also look at opportunities in critical minerals found in bitumen and tailings. But we must uphold polluter pay, which the UCP is abandoning.
Q: Some in your party want oil companies shut down. Do you see a middle path?
A: We want oil and gas to thrive, not vanish. I’ve worked in the sector and seen the innovation firsthand. But Smith’s government lives in the past and holds industry back with rhetoric and inaction. We would make the case federally and show all Canadians how vital Alberta’s industry is. That’s how we ensure its success.
Q: How would you work with other premiers on Trump, tariffs and U.S. interference?
A: The key word is “with.” We’d work with premiers and the federal government instead of chasing selfies with Trump. Our five-point plan starts with strengthening Canada’s internal market—reducing trade barriers, standardizing accreditation and building codes. We’d approach the U.S. strategically, build long-term relationships and diversify global trade. We’d defend Alberta workers with income supports and retraining when tariffs hit. And we should use this U.S. chaos to recruit top global talent—doctors, scientists, engineers—by investing in post-secondary and research
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