Nenshi distances Alberta NDP from new federal leader Avi Lewis over energy policy differences

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi says his party is not aligned with newly elected federal NDP Leader Avi Lewis on energy policy, following Lewis’s victory at the party’s national convention.

Speaking at the Alberta legislature on Monday, Nenshi said the divide between the federal and provincial wings of the party on energy issues has existed for years. “It was important for Albertans to remember that for many years now, the New Democrats have not been fully aligned, particularly on energy policy,” he said.

Lewis, a Vancouver-based filmmaker and activist, was elected Sunday in Winnipeg with 56 per cent support on the first ballot. He defeated Edmonton-area MP Heather McPherson, who received 29 per cent.

During the campaign, Lewis pledged to end federal approvals for new pipelines and natural gas projects and to prioritize a national clean energy grid. Those positions contrast with Alberta’s economic focus on oil and gas, including the provincial NDP’s support for optimizing the Trans Mountain expansion and increasing natural gas production.

Nenshi also referenced past comments by Lewis, saying the federal leader had supported the defeat of a previous Alberta NDP government and “is not in the interests of Alberta.” Lewis has previously argued for accelerating a transition away from fossil fuels, citing economic stability and energy security.

Political analyst Scott Reid said the policy gap could pose challenges for the Alberta NDP, particularly as Premier Danielle Smith and the governing United Conservative Party seek to link the two branches. In a social media post Sunday, Smith said the federal and provincial NDP remain connected through the party’s constitution.