`Powerful' role possible

Newly minted Calgary Skyview Liberal MP seen joining federal cabinet

George Chahal is set to be the Liberals' only MP in Calgary, opening the door for him to play a major role on the federal stage, according to political watchers.

Not only is Chahal's Calgary Skyview riding the only Liberal seat in a sea of Conservative blue across the rest of the city, it's one of just a handful across all the Prairie provinces: the Grits have four confirmed wins in Manitoba, but none in Saskatchewan.

Depending on the outcome in Edmonton Centre, where special ballots are still being counted in a tight race between Liberal Randy Boissonnault and Conservative James Cumming, Chahal could be the only Liberal MP in Alberta.

Mount Royal University political scientist David Taras said that's a numbers game that virtually guarantees Chahal a cabinet position.

“This is an exaggeration, but basically from the Ontario border through to Vancouver, the Liberals have almost no one. That's a huge chunk of the country,” he said.

“Everything else being equal, George Chahal would get a cabinet position. It's hard to know what — probably not a senior position because he'll just have been elected, but dollars to doughnuts, he gets a position.”

Chahal's past experience is likely to play a role in any cabinet consideration. He already has political experience as a city councillor, but he served just one term in Ward 5 before making the jump to federal office. His other professional background is in finance, real estate and development, and he has a master's degree in environmental design.

The Liberals were entirely shut out of Alberta after the last federal vote in 2019, when Conservatives were elected in every riding but Edmonton Strathcona, which voted NDP.

The significance of his win wasn't lost on Chahal as he proudly declared to supporters late Monday night: “We have a representation in government from Calgary.”

Outgoing Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi said Tuesday zero Alberta representation in the federal government puts both the province and policy-makers in a tough spot.

“In particular since 2019, what we've seen is that it's been very hard for the federal government to understand what's really going on in Alberta because there's no one around the table,” he said.

“God help them, they have to listen to (Premier) Jason Kenney to understand what's going on in Alberta. So I and (Edmonton) Mayor (Don) Iveson have spent a lot of time talking to the federal government, but it's not the same as having someone around the table.”

Taras added that he doesn't know much about Chahal yet, but the Mp-elect could have an opportunity to hold a more informal spokesman role for Alberta as an elected official.

“He could be very powerful. It's the voice within the castle. It's not only that you appear in public places and you're seen and you represent the government, but it's the opposite,” Taras said.

“Within the counsels of government you can have disproportionate power because you represent something that's important for the country.”

Chahal is technically still a city councillor until his term expires after the municipal election on Oct. 18. Alberta's Municipal Government Act states that councillors are disqualified from office if they become a member of the House of Commons, and while Chahal has yet to be sworn in, he may not be eligible to remain a councillor for the next few weeks.

Nenshi said city lawyers are currently looking at the issue, and there should be more clarity soon.