Former Alberta NDP Agriculture Minister announced election plan

Former MLA for Whitecourt Ste Anne and Minister of Agriculture, Oneil Carlier announced earlier this week that he would be seeking the Alberta NDP Nomination in Lac Ste Anne-Parkland.

Carlier who served as Minister of Agriculture from 2015 to 2019 said in a press release that he wanted to get back helping families, “When I was an MLA and cabinet minister, I saw how government can work to get results for families,

“From his handling of the pandemic, to his attacks on health care workers, to sky-rocketing electricity rates, it’s clear Jason Kenney is not delivering for the families of our area.”

He was elected MLA for Whitecourt-Ste Anne in 2015. He was defeated in the 2019 in the riding of Lac Ste Anne-Parkland.

“I’m seeking the nomination for Lac Ste Anne-Parkland to join other NDP MLAs in the Legislature and be a voice for Lac Ste Anne-Parkland. With Kenney leaving the door open to coal mining in the Rockies, attacking doctors and nurses, and giving away billions to corporations while failing to create jobs – we need a better deal, and better representation at the provincial level," Carlier stated.

Carlier joins a list of former MLAs seeking re-election in the upcoming 2023 provincial election. Former MLA Danielle Larivee announced this weekend that she was seeking the nomination for the NDP in Lesser Slave Lake.

Former MLA Brian Malkinson (Calgary Currie) and Maira Fitzpatrick (Lethbridge West) both ran for the nomination for their old ridings but were defeated in the nomination contest. Former MLA Craig Coolahan (Calgary-Klien) announced this past weekend that he would not be standing for the nomination in his old riding, but rather endorsed Marilyn North-Peigan.