Former Calgary mayor shrugs off criticism at first Alberta NDP leadership debate: Not a takeover [Video]

The first debate in the Alberta NDP leadership race was mostly a civil affair Thursday but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Close to 500 people turned out at the Yates Theatre in Lethbridge to hear Nenshi, three current NDP members of the legislature: Calgary’s Kathleen Ganley and Edmonton representatives Sarah Hoffman and Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse as well as Alberta Federation of Labour President Gil McGowan.

Hoffman, the former health minister and deputy premier, made a veiled reference to Nenshi when she said she was “unapologetic” about being a New Democrat.

“Let’s elect a New Democrat as leader of the NDP,” she said.

Afterward she made reference to Nenshi’s suggestion that the Alberta and federal NDP should sever ties.

“A lot of people like to put up walls and blame Danielle Smith for putting up walls but there’s someone on this stage who wants to put up a wall with the federal party – that’s …