(EDMONTON, AB) April 4, 2025 – The United Conservative Caucus is once again condemning the Alberta NDP for continuing to tolerate extreme views in their ranks, after the Carney Liberals revoked Rod Loyola’s candidacy over comments praising terrorist organizations.
Loyola, who served in the Alberta NDP caucus from 2015 to 2025, was dropped by the Liberals just days after jumping ship to run in Edmonton-Gateway. A resurfaced video shows Loyola at a 2009 anti-NATO rally praising Hamas and Hezbollah — two officially listed terrorist organizations in Canada — calling the antisemitic groups “movements for national liberation” and saying their actions “need to be recognized.”
“Rod Loyola is now officially too extreme for the federal Liberals,” said Chief Government Whip Shane Getson. “But for a full decade, he was welcomed by the Alberta NDP — including under both Rachel Notley and Naheed Nenshi. The NDP never disciplined him. They never distanced themselves. They never once said his views crossed the line.”
Loyola has a long track record of radical rhetoric, praising communist dictators like Fidel Castro and Hugo Chávez. Despite all this, the Alberta NDP gave him critic roles, allowed him to run for leader, and continued to keep him in their caucus without consequence.
And this isn’t the first time. “How many times have we asked the Alberta NDP to denounce extreme views?” added Getson. “Every time, they’ve refused — and now, once again, we’ve been proven right. First, we warned Albertans about the NDP-Liberal alliance. Now, we’re seeing proof they won’t even disown their most radical voices until someone else does it for them.”
“This isn’t about one person — it’s about a party that refuses to draw the line,” said Getson. “Will Nenshi draw a line in the sand for decency and root out other extremist views in his party?”
The United Conservative Caucus will continue to stand up for Alberta values — rejecting extremism, defending democracy, and protecting Alberta’s economy from dangerous ideologies.
