Both major parties confirm nominations for undated Edmonton-Ellerslie by-election

From left to right: undated photos of Naresh Bhardwaj, the United Conservative Party's nomination for Edmonton-Ellerslie, and Gurtej Singh Brar, the Alberta New Democratic Party's nomination for Edmonton-Ellerslie. (Source: United Conservative Party and Alberta New Democratic Party)

Both the United Conservative and Alberta New Democratic parties have nominated a candidate for the Edmonton-Ellerslie by-election.

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NDP members voted to nominate Gurtej Singh Brar Wednesday evening. The party says he is a community advocate with years of public service.

Naresh Bhardwaj won the UCP nomination on May 3. Bhardwaj represented the district in 2008 and 2012, and served in Jim Prentice’s cabinet. He withdrew from the 2015 general election after being accused – and cleared by the Progressive Conservative Party’s investigation – of bribery.

A date for the by-election has not been announced yet. Provincial legislation requires it be called before Sept. 24.

The by-election was triggered by Rod Loyola resigning to run for the federal Liberals in the Edmonton-Gateway riding. When he was dropped, he entered as an independent, to then lose to Conservative Tim Uppal.