Rod Loyola

Loyola was born in Santiago, Chile during the rise of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. He and his family left the country in 1976 and immigrated to Canada when he was two years old. They settled in Mill Woods, a neighbourhood in the south side of Edmonton.{{Cite news |last=Wittmeier |first=Brent |date=October 11, 2014 |title=The outsider: Rod Loyola proud of his political newcomer status |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/the-outsider-rod-loyola-proud-of-his-political-newcomer-status |work=Edmonton Journal}}

Loyola and his family were part of the first wave of Latin American arrivals to Edmonton. His family had hoped to one day return to Chile, but instead they established themselves in the Mill Woods community.{{Cite news |last=Rossiter |first=Sheena |date=September 11, 2018 |title='Part of the community': Latin Americans thriving in Mill Woods |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/mill-woods-latin-americans-chile-1.4819032 |work=CBC News}} Conditions in Loyola's country of origin were not safe. Before fleeing to Canada, his father broke curfew to get milk for his family and was opened fire upon by soldiers on the way home. According to Loyola, his father had an independent streak and did not want to be seen as a "hindrance to the system". As a result, he did not apply for social assistance and, in one instance, took out a bank loan to pay for winter coats.{{Cite news |last=CBC News |date=September 21, 2015 |title=Rod Loyola recalls family's flight to freedom as Syrian crisis continues |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/rod-loyola-recalls-family-s-flight-to-freedom-as-syrian-crisis-continues-1.3236290 |work=CBC News}}

Growing up in Edmonton, Loyola developed an interest in poetry, hip-hop, and the arts. In the 2000s, he collaborated with Vlad Gomex and Cristian Cousino to form the Chilean-Canadian hip-hop group People's Poets. They released one album, No Life Without Roots, in 2009.{{Cite web |title=No Life Without Roots, by Peoples Poets |url=https://peoplespoets.bandcamp.com/album/no-life-without-roots |access-date=2024-11-04 |website=Peoples Poets |language=en}}

Loyola graduated in 1999 with a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Alberta where he studied anthropology and Latin American history. In 2007, he returned to the U of A where he worked as an academic program coordinator and student advisor. In 2013, Loyola was elected President of the Non-Academic Staff Association, the union representing support staff workers at the University of Alberta.

On July 21, 2014, Rod Loyola announced his intention to run as leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party. He competed for the spot alongside David Eggen and Rachel Notley. Upon making this announcement, he wanted to focus on making sure that vulnerable and marginalized populations, including Indigenous people and newcomers to Canada, were better represented in the legislature. He also was concerned about privatization of public services and the harmful impacts of cuts to education, which Loyola believed worsens inequality in society.

In the results of the leadership vote held on October 18, 2014, Rachel Notley ultimately prevailed with 70 percent of the vote, David Eggen in second place, and Loyola placing third.

Since first being elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta in 2015, Loyola has served on a number of Legislative Committees, which include Public Accounts, Resource Stewardship, Alberta Heritage Savings Trust Fund, Ethics and Accountability, Privileges and Elections, Legislative Offices, and Alberta's Economic Future.{{Cite web |title=Member Information |url=https://www.assembly.ab.ca/members/members-of-the-legislative-assembly/member-information?mid=0856&legl=31&from=mla_home |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=www.assembly.ab.ca}}

As MLA, he advocated on behalf of his constituents to allow turban-wearing Sikhs the right to ride motorcycles without helmets. Brian Mason, then Minister of Transportation, granted an exemption on religious grounds in 2018.{{Cite news |last=CBC News |date=March 29, 2018 |title=Alberta to allow turban-wearing Sikhs right to ride motorcycles without helmets |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-turban-wearing-sikhs-motorcycles-without-helmet-b-c-manitoba-1.4599573 |work=CBC News}}

An avid soccer fan, Loyola wanted the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to temporarily extend the hours that licensed bars and restaurants can be open to serve patrons during the 2018 World Cup games so they could enjoy seeing the game live. Joe Ceci, then the Minister of Finance, approved the temporary extension in time for the games.{{Cite web |title=Alberta eyes pub time changes during World Cup {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4260203/alberta-bars-time-change-world-cup/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=CBC News |date=June 12, 2018 |title=Alberta onside with soccer fans to extend bar hours for World Cup |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/world-cup-hours-extended-soccer-alberta-bars-restaurants-1.4702761 |work=CBC News}}

In 2021, Loyola also successfully advocated for his constituents with cystic fibrosis to grant access to new life-saving drugs like Trikafta, making sure it's on the list of Alberta-approved drugs.{{Cite journal |last=Legislative Assembly of Alberta |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Alberta Hansard: The 30th Legislature - Second Session, Day 11, Thursday afternoon, June 8, 2021 |url=https://docs.assembly.ab.ca/LADDAR_files/docs/hansards/han/legislature_30/session_2/20210608_1330_01_han.pdf#page=14 |journal=Alberta Hansard |pages=5312–5313}}

After the Alberta New Democratic Party shifted from being in government to Official Opposition in 2019, Loyola has served in a number of shadow cabinet roles. Between 2019 and 2021, Loyola served as Critic for Transportation.{{Cite news |last=Bellefontaine |first=Michelle |date=May 13, 2019 |title='Challenging and exciting, fun and frustrating': NDP MLAs look ahead to next 4 years |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/challenging-and-exciting-fun-and-frustrating-ndp-mlas-look-ahead-to-next-4-years-1.5134614}} As Transportation critic, he advocated on behalf of the survivors of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash for better safety standards for bus seatbelts and training requirements for truck drivers.{{Cite news |last=Thomson |first=Graham |date=October 18, 2019 |title=Opinion {{!}} Even Humboldt Broncos families can't bring lasting decorum to legislature |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/humboldt-broncos-decorum-legislature-1.5325332 |work=CBC News}}{{Cite web |title=Alberta transportation minister says some truck drivers permanently exempt from training standards enacted after Broncos crash {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6018860/mciver-melt-truck-driver-training-humboldt-broncos-exemptions/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Graveland |first=Bill |date=2020-11-16 |title='It's just disgusting': Broncos parents angry over lack of action on bus seatbelts |url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/it-s-just-disgusting-broncos-parents-angry-over-lack-of-action-on-bus-seatbelts-1.5190846?cache=/power-play-podcasts |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Calgary |language=en}}

As an MLA representing a riding in the south side of Edmonton, he has advocated for the construction of a new hospital in south Edmonton, which has been met with delays ever since the United Conservative Party took power in 2019.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-04 |title=Opposition accuses UCP of 'dragging their feet' on building south Edmonton hospital |url=https://edmonton.ctvnews.ca/opposition-accuses-ucp-of-dragging-their-feet-on-building-south-edmonton-hospital-1.6299386 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Edmonton |language=en}}

Following the 2023 Alberta general election, Loyola was named Alberta’s Economic Future Committee Deputy Chair.{{Cite web |title=NDP announces shadow cabinet for largest Official Opposition in Alberta history {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9797486/alberta-ndp-shadow-cabinet-largest-opposition/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} After Naheed Nenshi was elected leader of the Alberta NDP in 2024, Loyola was named Co-Chair of Outreach as part of the Leader's Senior Advisory Team.{{Cite web |last=Pattison Media |title=Alberta NDP Caucus shares leadership team and shadow minister shuffling |url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2024/09/12/alberta-ndp-caucus-shares-leadership-team-and-shadow-minister-shuffling/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Lethbridge News Now |language=en}}

Loyola resigned his seat on March 25, 2025, and announced he would be running in the 2025 Canadian federal election, as the Liberal candidate for the newly formed electoral district of Edmonton Gateway riding.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Lisa |title=Longtime Edmonton Alberta NDP MLA is resigning his provincial seat |url=https://edmontonjournal.com/news/politics/longtime-edmonton-alberta-ndp-mla-is-resigning-his-provincial-seat |website=Edmonton Journal |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=27 March 2025 |date=25 March 2025}}{{Cite news |date=2025-03-26 |title=Former Alberta NDP member to run as a Liberal in Edmonton |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-former-alberta-ndp-member-to-run-under-mark-carneys-liberal-banner-in/ |access-date=2025-03-27 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}} The by-election to replace him is scheduled for June 23, 2025.{{Cite web |title=Alberta Premier, Danielle Smith, calls 3 byelections where NDP leader and separatist leader to run {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/11197879/alberta-provincial-byelections-called/ |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Global News |language=en-US}} Loyola was removed as a candidate by the Liberal Party on April 3, 2025, after comments in 2009 supporting Hamas and Hezbollah, listed terrorist organizations in Canada, surfaced in the media.https://nationalpost.com/news/politics/federal_election/liberals-drop-edmonton-candidate-who-praised-hamas-hezbollah-in-video

Loyola is married with two sons. In 2018, Loyola converted to Islam after extensive research on the faith.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_7NygumC2k |title=CANADIAN POLITICIAN ACCEPTED ISLAM! {{!}} Mr. Rodrigo Loyola |date=2021-06-17 |last=Sadat - That Canadian Brother™ |access-date=2024-11-07 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite news |last=French |first=Janet |date=June 8, 2021 |title=Alberta premier says more action coming to prosecute hate crimes |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/alberta-premier-says-more-action-coming-to-prosecute-hate-crimes-1.6058545 |work=CBC News}}

Loyola has served on the board of Friends of Medicare, volunteered for the Knottwood Community League, and the Post-Secondary Education Task Force for Public Interest Alberta. He was also a founding member of the Mill Woods Artists Collective, executive board member of the Memoria Viva Society of Edmonton, and was a producer of the Shaw Television Community Program, "Nosotros."{{Cite web |last=Garcha |first=Gurkirat |date=2012-11-18 |title=Rod Loyola |url=https://rodloyola.wordpress.com/about/ |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=Rod Loyola NDP MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie |language=en}}

{{2025 Canadian federal election/Edmonton Gateway}}

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{{2019 Alberta general election/Edmonton-Ellerslie}}

{{2015 Alberta general election/Edmonton-Ellerslie}}

{{2012 Alberta general election/Edmonton-Ellerslie}}

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Category:Alberta New Democratic Party MLAs

Category:Living people

Category:Politicians from Edmonton

Category:Politicians from Santiago, Chile

Category:Chilean emigrants to Canada

Category:Trade unionists from Alberta

Category:1974 births

Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta

Category:Liberal Party of Canada candidates in the 2025 Canadian federal election

Category:Independent candidates in the 2025 Canadian federal election