Layton hoping for Alberta ‘breakthrough’ with Ray Martin as a candidate

CALGARY — Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton says he’s thrilled that long-time Alberta New Democrat Ray Martin has agreed to seek the candidacy for the national party in the riding of Edmonton East.

Martin served as the Alberta NDP leader for eight years in the late 1980s to early 1990s. He then returned to provincial politics to represent an east-Edmonton riding for four years until he was defeated in March when the Conservatives roared back to power with 72 seats.

Layton says Martin is well respected and known as a man with a lot of integrity.

Federal New Democrats say they hope Martin will help launch “a breakthrough” for them in the province, where all federal seats are currently held by the Conservatives.

The NDP nomination meeting for Edmonton East is expected in September.

Ray Martin was one of the victims of the EDmonton tidal wave this spring, so he’s decided to give it a go federally with Jack’s team. I remember Edmonton East being one of the best Liberal/NDP ridings in Alberta from a demographic perspective, on a project I did for school last year. So I think 30% of the vote and a second place finish might be two achievable targets for Ray (even though he finished third with 17% in 2000 when he ran federally).

But an Alberta NDP breakthrough? Errr…no.