Grant Notley: The Social Conscience of Alberta

by Howard Leeson

In the society and politics of Alberta, Grant Notley stood out. His goals, his personal integrity, his obvious dedication to social change, his "practical idealism" made him the social conscience of Alberta. He bridged the old and the new, he provided the necessary hard work to forge a link that ensured the continuation of a progressive social party in Alberta. Albertans felt intuitively that he represented a part of their collective being, and his untimely death in 1984 touched them deeply.Educated in the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation, but dedicated to the creation of the New Democratic Party, Grant Notley was one of the living links between the prairie populism of the CCF and the social democracy of the NDP; between the new urban base, and the remaining rural support; between the old leadership of the UFA, and the untested leaders to come.Grant Notley commanded a tremendous personal loyalty from those who came in contact with him. What prompted such loyalty? How could a shy, solitary, and socially retiring person take such a grip on people? The answer lies somewhere in his hard work, his own devotion to social change, and in the ideals of those that he sought to enlist.

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1992

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wise and measured biography of Alberta's NDP trailblazer. Leeson is an academic with philosophical and political alliances to the New Democratic Party; his work here is not a Notley hagiography or gossipy personal dish, but rather a cogent and relatively impartial analysis of the larger Alberta political environment in the 20th century - and Notley's position in it. Indeed, Notley remains throughout an enigma of sorts, described by those who knew him. His wife Sandy is mentioned strategically, but only in the context of her value to his political life. Notley was focused on one thing, and all else came second. Of special interest is Leeson's coverage of the evolution of the "New" party into the "New Democratic Party" and the fractious ideological clashes between the young upstarts and the historical CCF personalities ("socialist dilettantes", as one player referred to them). This read for me like a classic dynamic between the Stoics (the NDP) and the Epicureans (the CCF). Pragmatic action vs endless kaffe-klatch philosophical banter. Leeson also provides insight into the eventual demise of the Social Credit Party in Alberta. He touches upon the urban-rural tensions and the political leanings of Edmonton (left wing) and Calgary (right wing, conservative). His final chapter dealing with the 1978-82 federal-provincial tensions over oil and profits provide valuable perspective on the nascent Alberta separatist movement, significant in today's Canadian political culture. Leeson successfully balances the academic analysis and the personal experience. Highly recommended for those readers with an interest in Canadian politics and the dynamics of federal-provincial relations - both cross party and within party ranks.

[Marlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I appreciated this biography more than I expected. Glad to have a more nuanced understanding of Alberta's political history, and the provincial NDP's origins.