Rajan Sawhney named UCP candidate for Calgary-North West

An Alberta cabinet minister who months ago said she would not be seeking re-election in Calgary-North East has now been named the UCP candidate in Calgary-North West.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith named Rajan Sawhney as the UCP candidate in the riding in the upcoming election, a statement sent by the United Conservative Party Saturday said.

Sawhney, Alberta's minister for trade, immigration and multiculturalism, was first elected in 2019 as the member of the legislature for Calgary-North East. In February she said she would continue to serve until the end of the government's current mandate, but would not be seeking re-election in that area.

Smith said Saturday — on Corus Entertainment's Your Province, Your Premier radio program that she asked Sawhney to run.

"When Sonya Savage told me that she was going to step down so that she could spend more time with family, I went back to to Minister Sawhney and I said, 'do you think you might want to run there?'"

"And she gave it some consideration and we announced this morning that she has agreed to do that," Smith said.

In a statement, the UCP said the appointment of Sawhney follows a consultative process involving the local Constituency Association and the current MLA — Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, Sonya Savage, who previously said she would not be seeking re-election.

Due to the close proximity of the election, Smith had previously advised she would be using one of her appointments under Section 8 of the UCP's Candidate Selection Process, the UCP said.

The Alberta NDP candidate in Calgary-North West, Michael Lisboa-Smith, said he welcomes  Sawhney to the Calgary-North West race.

"I know many folks will be asking why Rajan Sawhney is appointed the UCP candidate in our community after she declined to contest the UCP nomination in the riding she currently represents," Lisboa-Smith wrote in an media release.

Sawhney had previously campaigned for the leadership of the party against Smith and five other candidates.

The UCP said nominations have been opened and the vacancies in Grande Prairie – Wapiti and Lethbridge – West will be filled through appointments ahead of the writ.