Labour leader Gil McGowan joins four MLAs in Alberta NDP leadership contest
CBC
Long-time labour leader Gil McGowan has officially entered the race to replace Rachel Notley.
McGowan, who has been president of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) for 19 years, is the fifth candidate vying for leadership of the Alberta NDP.
McGowan announced his leadership candidacy on social media earlier this week, adding that he has a poorly timed case of COVID-19 and has postponed campaign launch events and public appearances until he has recovered.
"It speaks volumes about the strength of the ANDP that so many highly-qualified candidates are vying for leadership," McGowan wrote in a nod to his competitors.
McGowan said Saturday he was unable to do an interview due to illness.
In his comments online, McGowan said he will remain AFL president while campaigning for the NDP leadership.
"I was elected to serve the interests of Alberta workers from AFL-affiliated unions and I intend to continue doing that throughout this spring," he wrote.
The leadership contest was prompted by Notley's January announcement that she would step down once party members chose her successor.
McGowan joins three Edmonton-area NDP MLAs — Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, Sarah Hoffman and Rakhi Pancholi — along with Calgary MLA Kathleen Ganley in a bid to replace Notley.
Former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi has hinted he may also enter the race this week.
Political consultants say McGowan could be a polarizing figure as NDP leader, and that party members must decide if that's what they want.
"Gil's not afraid to speak his mind. Stand up for what he believes in," said Deron Bilous, senior vice-president of Counsel Public Affairs in Western Canada, who was the NDP MLA for Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview from 2012 to 2023.
With his nearly 20 years at the helm of the AFL, McGowan is bound to appeal to NDP members involved with the labour movement, Bilous said.
He said more leadership candidates means additional membership sales for the party, and better engagement on policy, which should improve the health of the NDP.
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