Nenshi's Relaunch: Are NYC Ad Agencies and Ottawa Insiders Delivering for Calgarians?
By The Numbers
It’s been nearly a year and a half since Naheed Nenshi officially took the reins of the Alberta NDP, securing a landslide 86% of the votes on June 22, 2024, and later becoming the MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona and Leader of the Official Opposition. Yet, a "relaunch" effort is well underway, and it's grabbing headlines for the big names it's bringing into the fold. We're talking about a U.S. political ad agency that's previously worked for the New York City mayor, and a roster of former federal Liberals from Ottawa – including Justin Trudeau's former PMO aide, Jesse Chahal, who steered Nenshi's leadership campaign, and Burton, a former chief of staff to Liberal ministers Marc Miller and Amarjeet Sohi. The chatter, as one Calgarian recently noted, is whether all this big-city, out-of-province talent is actually making a difference in the NDP’s communication game. For regular Calgarians, the question isn't just who's on the team, but if these high-profile hires translate into clearer messaging on issues that actually affect our daily lives, from Deerfoot traffic snarls to the latest property tax hike.
Who Pays?
Let's be real: "hot-shot international political consultants don't come cheap." While the specific dollar amount of this external assistance isn't public, Calgarians are right to wonder about the financial implications for the Alberta NDP and, by extension, the broader political landscape we all navigate. This isn't just about party coffers; it's about the transparency and funding of our political system. The Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act (EFCDA) governs political donations here. What's even more significant is the proposed Bill 54, the Election Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, which could soon remove the ban on corporate and union political donations. If passed, this means Alberta-based corporations and unions could contribute up to C$5,000 annually. This shift could profoundly influence how the Alberta NDP funds these high-profile communication strategies, making the funding sources of political messaging a direct concern for anyone who cares about local governance and who holds influence over policy decisions affecting our city. Are we paying for homegrown solutions or importing them at a premium?
The Opposition View
It’s no surprise that this strategy is providing prime ammunition for the opposition. Former Conservative candidate Sayid Ahmed didn't mince words, blasting the move as "UNBELIEVABLE! Naheed Nenshi just hired an AMERICAN ad agency for his image makeover. Spending OUR Canadian dollars in the US! What happened to 'ELBOWS UP' 'buy Canadian'? Pure hypocrisy!" This sentiment resonates deeply in a city like Calgary, where local pride and supporting local businesses are often front and centre. Furthermore, the CBC News analysis wasn't shy about noting that Nenshi’s decision to build his team with former federal Liberals could provide significant "fodder for the United Conservatives, who've long made sport of tying Notley and Nenshi to the Ottawa politicians who seldom score well in Alberta." For Calgarians, this isn't just political theatre; it frames how our provincial leaders are perceived and whether they're seen as truly representing Alberta's unique interests or being too closely aligned with distant political agendas. It's a key part of the political narrative that will shape everything from municipal funding debates to the province's stance on energy.
The Verdict for Calgarians
Despite the considerable external firepower, the core question remains for Calgarians: are we seeing a tangible improvement in the Alberta NDP's communications? The original sentiment from the street suggests a lack of noticeable change so far. For us living in Ward 11, working downtown in The Bow, or commuting on Deerfoot, what matters isn't the pedigree of the consultants but whether the political messages become clearer, more direct, and more relevant to our day-to-day realities. Are we getting clearer answers on local issues like the Green Line extension, or more transparent explanations for policy shifts? If the goal of a relaunch is to connect better with voters, then the effectiveness of these expensive, imported strategies will ultimately be judged by how well they resonate right here at home. If we're not seeing clearer, more impactful messaging on the issues that matter most to us, then the investment in outside help might just feel like a missed opportunity for local engagement.
