CALGARY—In the wake of a disappointing loss in the provincial election nearly three weeks ago, Rachel Notley regrouped in Calgary on Saturday with a speech to rally and energize the NDP’s labour base.

The NDP leader spoke to a crowd at the Alberta Federation of Labour Convention on Saturday afternoon in downtown Calgary. Her speech was a chance for Notley to reach out to supporters in a friendly crowd after the recent electoral loss to the United Conservative Party (UCP) left the NDP as Alberta’s official opposition with 24 seats in the legislature, less than half of the 52 seats they held entering the election.

On Saturday, Notley pledged to fight to maintain the progress the party made on labour issues. Notley listed protecting Alberta’s $15 minimum wage for all workers and overtime pay as two significant labour issues she’ll fight to keep in legislation.

“These are the most immediate concerns that we have, because it’s going to make a real difference in the lives of working families,” Notley said.

Premier Jason Kenney had promised during the election campaign to roll back minimum wage for young workers, and the UCP’s platform also put forward policy that critics worry could mean workers earn less overtime pay.

Saturday’s speech also made time for reflection on the NDP’s own campaign and priorities. Notley acknowledged she’s heard differing opinions from supporters about how the NDP’s campaign could have been run more effectively.

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Some in attendance echoed this point. Jane Sustrik, the first vice-president with United Nurses of Alberta, said she’s heard from NDP supporters who wished the party had campaigned more heavily on their record of accomplishments in office, as opposed to attacks on her rival.

Alex Shevalier, president of the Calgary and District Labour Council, said he’s heard the same criticism but argued contrasting the two party’s visions helped the NDP take as many seats as they did.

But the labour organizer is now more concerned with supporting the NDP’s efforts to maintain the labour policies its government enacted over the last four years.

“The fight, if we want to frame it that way, is about defending what we have,” Shevalier said.

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This was also the main point of Notley’s speech, a call to action for supporters to regroup after this year’s loss and to raise the spirits of voters like Sustrik who felt pessimistic after the NDP lost power.

“I’ve been through this before with PC governments and lots of struggles and fights, and I thought ‘I just don’t have another fight left in me. I just can’t do this.’ And I feel re-energized by her speaking to us today, and I’m ready again now to pick up and fight for worker rights,” Sustrik said.

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