EDMONTON – CUPE National President Paul Moist spoke to 180 delegates at the Alberta NDP convention today, arguing that there is ample room for the NDP to grow in this traditionally conservative province.
“When people like Peter Lougheed express dismay over the Alberta government’s squandering of the province’s wealth, and fear the government is being a poor steward of the environment, it means there is room for our party to grow.
The CUPE President pointed out that the Conservatives used to brag about huge surpluses, but have to take the blame for a large deficit.Moist called on labour and the NDP to work together to elect more MLAs in Alberta, but said Labour has to do more than donate money.
Labour’s ideas and involvement and volunteers are more powerful than any cheque book,” said Moist. “We need to help each other every day, but exchanging knowledge, ideas, and keeping the lines of communication open.”
In other convention news, CUPE member Nancy Furlong was elected President of the Alberta NDP, and Local 1169 President Rh’ena Oake was elected Calgary Vice-President.