1 week Ago By Noah Brennan
Three weeks before Canadians head to the polls, federal races finally took full shape Monday as the deadline for candidate nominations passed. The tight timeline is not an issue for Calgary East Liberal candidate Priti Obhrai-Martin, who says she thrives under pressure. Obhrai-Martin officially launched her campaign Saturday, kicking off a short sprint to make her case to voters before the April 28 vote.
“I love deadlines,” she said Monday. “The time span works to my advantage because . .
. I work my best on tight deadlines.” Obhrai-Martin is a familiar name in Calgary East.
She’s the daughter of the late Conservative MP Deepak Obhrai, who represented the riding — under various conservative party banners — from 1997 until his death in 2019. She worked closely with her father for more than 20 years, often serving as campaign manager and strategist. Despite her conservative ties, she said it was her father’s wisdom that helped guide her decision to run for the Liberals.
“My dad was never about the party,” she said. “He was about the people and doing what was best for (them).” She said people in her riding have been surprised, and even angry, about her choice.
“They think I’m betraying my dad,” she said. She emphasized her professional background in strategic communications and social media as some of her key campaign strengths. “I know how to communicate my messages effectively and targeted appropriately,” she said.
While getting her name out to voters is a priority right now, she said, “it’s not just talking to them, it’s also listening, and being able to understand what the real needs are.” Incumbent Conservative MP Jasraj Singh Hallan is currently favoured to win Calgary East, according to 338Canada polling projections. Hallan could not immediately be reached for comment Monday.
The Liberal party filled its remaining Calgary vacancies in recent days and is now running candidates in all 11 city ridings. In addition to Obhrai-Martin, the party added Scott Arnott in Calgary Heritage. Corey Hogan, a political commentator and University of Calgary executive, is running in Calgary Confederation, replacing Thomas Keeper , who was dropped last week.
In southern Alberta, the rural riding of Bow River was the only Liberal vacancy as of Monday afternoon, according to the party’s website. The Conservatives had a full slate of Calgary candidates early in the campaign, even with two longtime MPs retiring. Len Webber (Calgary Confederation) and Ron Liepert (Calgary Signal Hill) previously announced they would not be seeking re-election in their respective ridings.
Jeremy Nixon and David McKenzie are running in their place..
