The Alberta United Conservative Party is calling on NDP leader Rachel Notley to condemn actions and comments from candidates who attack and smear the oil and gas sector. .“The NDP still hates our energy industry, even though it supports so many critical services Albertans rely on and thousands of livelihoods,” said Alberta UCP candidate Devin Dreeshen (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake) in a Friday press release. .“It’s beyond concerning the NDP clearly harbours so much contempt for this industry and the people who work in it.” .Alberta NDP candidate Kevin Van Tighem (Livingstone-Macleod) compared the oil and gas industry to slavery. He said oil sucks and Albertans were suckers, they were entitled, grabby resource exploiters, and celebrated the cancellation of the Northern Gateway Pipeline. .The UCP demanded an apology from Van Tighem on Thursday. .READ MORE: UCP demands apology from NDP candidate for claiming Alberta companies were 'slave owners' .UCP candidate Sayid Ahmed (Edmonton-Decore) called Van Tighem’s comments “really messed up.” .“Let me deliver a message to Kevin (Van) Tighem and the NDP: Your comments are horrific, hurtful, and outrageous.” .NDP candidate Samir Kayande (Calgary-Elbow) said he wanted to eliminate hydrocarbons. .UCP MLA Prasad Panda pointed out on April 13 Kayande said the oil and gas industry “must go away.” .READ MORE: Alberta NDP candidate said hydrocarbons ‘must go away’.“This is how the NDP really feels about our energy industry,” said Panda. .Kayande said in an op-ed published in CBC Opinion in 2021 there is no alternative to hydrocarbons..NDP candidate Janis Irwin (Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood) said there is room for perspectives from radical environmentalist advocacy groups such as Extinction Rebellion in classrooms. .Candidate Shannon Phillips (Lethbridge-West) wrote the foreword to a radical activism guide with Greenpeace activist Mike Hudema titled An Action a Day Keeps Global Capitalism Away. .Candidate David Eggen (Edmonton-North West) chanted “No new approvals” on the steps of the Alberta Legislature. .To mirror Notley’s comments about the just transition, candidate Druh Farrell (Calgary-Bow) said Canadians should stop obsessing over pipelines and shrinking employment in coal and oil and gas. .UCP candidate RJ Sigurdson (Highwood) said all Albertans should be concerned with these comments, particularly the ones from Van Tighem. .“Rachel Notley’s ‘star’ hand-picked candidate clearly has nothing but disdain for Albertans and Alberta’s energy sector,” said Sigurdson. .“These comments are insulting and highlight how out of touch the NDP is with the lives of everyday Alberta families.” .UCP candidate Chantelle de Jonge said Albertans should not vote for the NDP at a time when people need reliable energy from an ethical producer. .De Jonge acknowledged Alberta’s energy industry has the highest environmental and human rights standards in the world. ."The fact the NDP don’t understand that shows they’re unfit to govern Alberta, and Albertans should not trust them," she said.
