MLA for Calgary-North West decides not to seek reelection

Calgary MLA not seeking reelection Calgary-West MLA Sandra Jansen has announced that she will not seek reelection.

Sandra Jansen announced on Monday that she has decided not to seek reelection after much consideration and discussion with her family.

Jansen is the MLA for Calgary-North West and Alberta’s Infrastructure Minister.

She was first elected to the legislature as a Conservative and two years ago crossed the floor to join the NDP.

Associate Professor of Policy Studies at Mount Royal University, Lori Williams, says Jansen’s announcement is not a surprise.

“Sandra Jansen has probably looked at the chance of winning in her riding and concluded that it’s not likely to be a successful race. So she’s spent a lot of time in the legislature, she’s performed service in the legislature but the fact that she was a Progressive Conservative when first elected and went to the NDP, that sort of floor-crossing, as we know, always raising questions about a candidate and that combined with other considerations, made, I think, her realize that her chances in the next election are limited.”

Jansen released a statement on the Alberta NDP website on Monday saying that it was not an easy decision and that she plans to help Premier Notley get reelected.