(EDMONTON, AB) March 25, 2025– MLA Rod Loyola’s resignation is the latest in a growing pattern of high-profile NDP departures and internal divisions under Naheed Nenshi’s leadership. Shannon Phillips stepped down when it was becoming evident Nenshi would win. Rachel Notley stepped down. Of the 14 NDP MLAs in Calgary, not one resigned to make room for Nenshi. Now, Loyola is leaving amid speculation he’s preparing to run for Mark Carney’s Liberals in the upcoming federal election.
“Nenshi isn’t just leading the Alberta Chapter of the Federal NDP—he’s leading a party that doesn’t even bother to hide that they are basically an extension federal Liberals,” said Chief Government Whip Shane Getson. “With Loyola’s resignation, who is one of the most left leaning NDP members, the alliance between the Alberta NDP and the Trudeau-Carney Liberals appears even deeper and stronger than Albertans first thought. No wonder he was toying with changing the party colors to purple”
Loyola’s departure is just the latest sign of fractures within the Alberta NDP, as members struggle with internal disagreements over leadership and direction. While some in the party push for even more extreme left-wing policies, others, like Loyola, appear to be looking for an exit strategy—choosing the federal Liberals and their ongoing alliance with the NDP over the provincial one under Nenshi’s leadership.
United Conservatives are standing up for Albertans by fighting for a strong economy, lower taxes, and more opportunity. Meanwhile, Naheed Nenshi’s NDP is becoming increasingly divided between its radical activist wing and those who see the writing on the wall and are looking for a way out sooner, as opposed to later.
