Alberta NDP and UCP nominate candidates for Edmonton-Ellerslie riding

Alberta’s two major parties have nominated their candidates for the Edmonton-Ellerslie riding.

The riding has been left vacant since March after longtime Alberta NDP member Rod Loyola resigned from his seat to run in the federal 2025 election as the Liberal candidate for Edmonton Gateway, but was removed after a video from 2009 resurfaced in which he praised terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah, while speaking at an anti-NATO protest outside Edmonton City Hall.

Article content

Loyola was first elected in 2015 and was in his third term as an MLA when he resigned.

The Alberta NDP are looking to keep the riding and have nominated Gurtej Singh Brar following a vote on May 14. In a Wednesday press release, the party said Brar has “strong local roots and a commitment to public service.”

“Edmonton-Ellerslie is full of possibility. I’m ready to work hard for this community and deliver the representation it deserves,” Brar said.

The UCP nominated Naresh Bhardwaj as its candidate. Bhardwaj served as the MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie from 2008 to 2015 and did not run after allegations of bribery. of which he was later cleared.

“I’m running because I believe that Edmonton-Ellerslie deserves a strong and experienced voice in the government to help grow and diversify our economy, advocate for an inclusive education system, support more efficient healthcare, keep our streets safe and support newcomers while recognizing foreign credentials,” Bhardwaj said.

Article content

Edmonton-Ellerslie is one of three ridings that must be called for a by-election this year.

“I think just for taxpayers purposes its better to have all three of them at once,” Smith said during a press conference on Friday.

In May, Alberta Speaker Nathan Cooper resigned as MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills where he served for nearly a decade and will replace former Edmonton Conservative MP James Rajotte as the province’s D.C. based diplomat.

The UCP have nominated Acme Farmer Tara Sawyer for the seat. The NDP have yet to announce their candidate.

Edmonton Strathcona has been vacant since December 2024 after former premier Rachel Notley resigned, making room for Alberta leader Naheed Nenshi to run.

The UCP have nominated Darby Crouch as its candidate for the riding.

The by-election for the riding must be called by the end of June.

ctran@postmedia.com

X: @kccindytran