Two high-profile conservatives post video in support of Alberta NDP
Multiple Progressive Conservatives are making it known that they will not be voting for the United Conservative Party.
Doug Griffiths and Thomas Lukaszuk have both posted videos to Twitter endorsing NDP candidates and speaking out against the UCP in the upcoming provincial election – and it all comes down to Danielle Smith and the direction the UCP is going.
"I am not NDP, but in this election the stakes are too high to gamble," Lukaszuk said in a May 2 video where he endorsed NDP candidate Joan Chand'oiseau.
A former Progressive Conservative deputy premier and MLA, Lukaszuk is one of a handful of high-profile conservatives endorsing NDP candidates in their ridings. He said he doesn't trust the UCP's leadership under Danielle Smith.
"There comes a time where you have to make a decision that is good for the province and our future and where you set aside silly partisan gamesmanship," he told CTV News Edmonton Monday.
Doug Griffiths, former Progressive Conservative minister of municipal affairs cabinet member, posted his own video on May 19 endorsing an NDP candidate and speaking out against the UCP government.
"We don't need more radical ideas and anger, we need leadership and people who can represent our communities in the legislature, that's why I'm supporting Taneen Rudyck," Griffiths said in the video.
Griffiths said his decision is motivated in part by Danielle Smith's Sovereignty Act and how she has responded as Premier to certain issues.
"I've seen her time and again, say one thing and do the exact opposite," he said.
He's also worried about the party's involvement with Take Back Alberta, a far-right grassroots group.
"I don't believe the UCP party is conservative anymore," Griffiths said. "They are conspiratorial, they are feeding anger.
"They are anti-science, anti-truth, anti-fact."
Political science professor Duane Bratt said the endorsements could help the NDP secure a win on May 29.
"Anytime you get an endorsement, it helps," he said Monday. "And so they're trying to portray them as a more centrist, centre-left type party."
Win or lose, Bratt said the UCP will face a turbulent future.
"It is not the united party and we saw that with the breakdown over Jason Kenney and the very narrow leadership win by Danielle Smith," he added.
Advanced voting opens Tuesday in Alberta. Election day is Monday, May 29.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
'Sophisticated' cyberattacks detected on B.C. government networks, premier says
There has been a "sophisticated" cybersecurity breach detected on B.C. government networks, Premier David Eby confirmed Wednesday evening.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
Canucks claw out 5-4 comeback win over Oilers in Game 1
Dakota Joshua had a goal and two assists and the Vancouver Canucks scored three third-period goals to claw out a 5-4 comeback victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 1 of their second-round playoff series Wednesday.
Nijjar murder suspect says he had Canadian study permit in immigration firm's video
One of the Indian nationals accused of murdering British Columbia Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar says in a social media video that he received a Canadian study permit with the help of an Indian immigration consultancy.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.