Hoffman, Alberta NDP leadership candidate names policy chairs for health, climate and housing

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Hoffman’s campaign officials say the climate group will be led by Hon. Marlin Schmidt, former Minister of Advanced Education, former Critic for Environment and Parks, and an environmental scientist by training.

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“Climate change is the great challenge of our time, and the consequences are happening right now. Unprecedented wildfires and catastrophic droughts are already upon us. We need to take urgent action to reduce carbon emissions and I will propose policy tools to do that,” Schmidt said.

Campaign officials say the housing group will be led by Hon. Lori Sigurdson, former Minister of Housing, former Critic for Mental Health and Addiction, and a social worker.

“So many Albertans are struggling to make ends meet and their biggest single cost is housing. Edmonton and Calgary have the fastest rising rents in the entire country. We need to control soaring rents, and dramatically increase our affordable housing stock. I’m very excited to take on this policy work for Sarah’s campaign,” Sigurdson said.

Hoffman’s campaign launched in front of hundreds of supporters on February 11. Her campaign officials say she was the third candidate to launch, but first to raise the $60,000 entrance fee, first to collect all the required nomination signatures, and first officially on the ballot.

Hoffman’s campaign officials say New Democrats continue to come forward to endorse Hoffman, from former leader Ray Martin and prominent labour lawyer Barrie Chivers, to former Calgary MLAs Graham Sucha and Anam Kazim, to longtime volunteers and activists from across the province.

“I’m honoured by the support and enthusiasm I’ve gotten from Albertans right across the province, from Medicine Hat to Peace River,” Hoffman said. “I’ve won five elections in a row by working hard and staying true to our NDP values. That’s how I plan on winning this one.”

Other Alberta NDP leadership candidates currently include Kathleen Ganley, Rakhi Pancholi, and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse.

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