Is former Alberta NDP MLA and now Liberal candidate Rod Loyola still a communist?
It's a question the Liberal Party of Canada should've asked before accepting the former rapper — who called for violent communist uprisings — into the party as a candidate for Edmonton Gateway.
Loyola quit as MLA (Edmonton-Ellerslie) effective Tuesday.
Loyola once performed as a rapper under the stage name "Ro Soul Jah." In his songs he called for violent communist revolution against capitalism and glorified extremists like Che Guevara and Fidel Castro.
"I be spittin’ this s--- with an AK-47 blessed with a spirit originally from heaven reborn. A soldier of light blessed by the lord and now I stand on his right," Loyola once rapped.
Additional lyrics include, "Cuz I’m ready to pick up arms if it’s necessary yo, the creator bless me that’s the best G cuz I am free. Sign up and become a revolutionary, carry the message on to the masses. The time has come for organized clashes."
Years ago, Loyola was photographed marching with the Communist Party of Canada’s Edmonton Club during a parade. A Western Standard article described him as harbouring extreme, far-left ideology.
According to scholars, between 85 million and 100 million people died under communism in the 20th century due to outright murder, executions, purges, massacres, deaths from forced labor camps, and famines caused or exacerbated by communist policies.
Is it possible Loyola was ignorant of the statistics at the time of his communist march and music-making?
Maybe, over time, his views have softened.
Maybe the Liberals don't care about his beliefs given their affinity with the Chinese Communist Party. That is well documented by CSIS. There never was any accountability for Chinese election interference that favoured Justin Trudeau and others.
It's likely happening right now as Canadians prepare to cast ballots on April 28.
Loyola described himself as a socialist — like many other Canadian politicians — during his endorsement of NDP leader Naheed Nenshi in the 2024 Alberta NDP leadership race.
The Western Standard has reached out to Loyola for comment but has not heard back.
