NDP House Leader Christina Gray joins Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins to discuss expectations for the upcoming provincial budget, the role of the separation discourse in the upcoming legislative sitting, and more. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Michael Higgins: Premier Smith will speak to Albertans in a televised address Thursday evening. What are you expecting? Christina Gray: The premier has recently talked about a deficit. But I think it’s really important to remember this is the sixth year of the UCP government, the fourth budget under Danielle Smith, and the third deficit that we’re going to see. What I would like from our government is to hear they are focused on the priorities of Albertans. Health care, which is in crisis. We’ve seen so many important issues happen since the legislature last sat. Affordability for Albertans is really something that’s top of mind when I’m out talking to constituents. Of course, everybody’s talking about separation and what this government has facilitated through their courting of separatists and continuing to allow the separatist referendum. These are the things I know Albertans want to hear about. This government though has not had the priorities of Albertans in mind through the last few sessions. On this budget I would like to see a recognition that we need to make sure there is strong health care, strong education and support for families. MH: Separation is high on the radar for many Albertans. What role do you see the issue playing in the spring sitting, and how does your party plan to address it? CG: First off, being very clear on where every MLA in the legislature stands on the issue of separatism and Alberta remaining part of Canada is really important. That’s one of the reasons why NDP leader Naheed Nenshi led off with the pledge that we very publicly did. He invited all MLAs in a nonpartisan way to signal their support. Instead we’ve heard from the leaders of the separatist movement some of the UCP MLAs have signed the separation referendum. I think we’re going to hear a lot of concerns and questions about that. We also know the Forever Canadian petition reached the threshold it needed and there will be some sort of legislative committee formed to discuss next steps and what happens. The official opposition will be a part of those discussions, and really at the table trying to further what we’re hearing from our constituents and from Albertans,- which is such a strong desire to stay here in Canada, as well as an awareness of the economic damage that even having this discussion is having on our province right now. MH: Was there ever a realistic expectation that government bench members would sign that pledge? CG: Honestly, yes. The idea behind that was to do something in a very nonpartisan way that just allowed a very clear statement to be made. The word salad we hear from the UCP government about a united sovereign Alberta doesn’t cut it. Being able to have a clear discussion around where people stand on this is really important, because we have a separatist government that has been facilitating these types of discussions in, I would say, a really opportunistic way. It’s their politics driving this, not what’s best for Alberta. In the meantime, I’m talking to seniors in my area who are worried about leaving the house because if they slip on ice, they wonder if the health-care system will be there to make sure they’re not waiting 16 hours in the emergency room. Going into the session, I’m thinking a lot about those conversations, and our entire team is going to be talking about the things that are important to Albertans- which are health care, affordability and staying a part of Canada. MH: As house leader, how do you see the NDP working with Peter Guthrie and the Progressive Tory Party of Alberta in holding the Smith government to account? CG: A big part of my role as official Opposition house leader is to coordinate with everybody in the legislature. I have conversations with the government, and up till now, I’ve been talking to the independents. I will be working with independent Scott Sinclair and now Tory Party leader Peter Guthrie in the legislature when and where it makes sense. We have open conversations to an extent. Continuing to point out where the UCP government is not focused on things Albertans care about is going to be something we continue to see both from the official opposition, the independent member and now the new Tory Party member. The more voices pointing out the failures of this government, I think that can be quite positive. The politics can get interesting. For the official opposition, we’re just going to continue to work on what we’re hearing from constituents and the things we know make a real impact for families. MH: Your party has a handful of candidate nomination meetings scheduled for March. Is that a sign your party is gearing up for the prospect of an early election? CG: When it comes to election timing the government has the control. Nothing is scheduled until fall of 2027. We are just going to make sure we’re ready for whatever might come our way, at the same time as doing the work we were elected to do in the legislature, talking about the things that are important to Alberta families. That’s why you’re seeing some of those nomination meetings starting to happen. It can take a while to nominate for 87 ridings, and so just getting that work started now made sense to us all, in the name of being ready for whatever may happen.
