A former Alberta NDP representative says he’s running as an Independent candidate in the federal election after he was booted from Mark Carney’s Liberal banner.
Rod Loyola was to run in the newly formed riding of Edmonton Gateway, but the Liberals dropped him after a 2009 video surfaced in which he showed support for terrorist groups Hamas and Hezbollah at a protest.
He was in the middle of his third term as an Alberta legislature member, when he left the provincial legislature in March to run for the Liberals.
The rapper-turned-politician says he didn’t think an intro at a hip-hop segment 16 years ago would get him “cancelled” but that he unequivocally condemns killings, terrorism and abduction.
He says the Hamas attacks on Oct. 7, 2023 were unacceptable but he stands with Palestinians, calling Israel’s actions unjustified “collective punishment” that flies in the face of human rights.
Mr. Loyola is to run in Edmonton Southeast, where he will face off against Conservative candidate and lawyer Jagsharan Singh Mahal, as well as Liberal candidate and Edmonton mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 4, 2025.