Four NDP MLAs announce they won't seek re-election
Edmonton and Calgary representatives including former cabinet ministers Lori Sigurdson and Marlin Schmidt are stepping back from provincial politics.
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Four Alberta NDP MLAs have announced they will not run in the next provincial election, marking significant departures from the party's caucus.
Lori Sigurdson, MLA for Edmonton-Riverview since 2015, is stepping down. She held multiple cabinet posts under former Premier Rachel Notley, including minister of innovation and advanced education, minister of jobs, skills training and labour, and minister of seniors and housing.
Edmonton-Gold Bar MLA Marlin Schmidt, first elected in 2015, also will not seek re-election. He served as minister of advanced education in the Notley government.
Two Calgary MLAs are also departing. Joe Ceci, who has represented Calgary-Buffalo since 2015, served as provincial minister of finance and president of the treasury board. Before entering provincial politics, Ceci was a Calgary city councillor for 15 years. Dr. Luanne Metz, the NDP's shadow minister for health and MLA for Calgary-Varsity since 2023, announced she will not run again.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi released a statement lauding the departing MLAs for their service. "Before their time in elected office, each of them demonstrated a deep commitment to community service and improving the lives of others, and they carried that same dedication into public life," Nenshi said.
All four MLAs will continue representing their ridings until the next election. The NDP said nomination dates for new candidates in these ridings will be announced "in the weeks to come."