Fourteen-Year-Old Runs for NDP Office, Says He Aims to Be Prime Minister | Alberta, Canada

I won’t be happy until I’m elected prime minister

The NDP convention

Stories by DAMIAN INWOOD

At age 14, Jordan Peterson may only be five feet tall, but he’s reaching for the sky in Alberta politics.

Just for starters, Jordan came within 13 votes of being elected as a vice-president of the provincial New Democratic Party convention.

And even though he failed by such a narrow margin, Jordan isn’t perturbed.

“I’ll be running for office again next year,” he says. “And I won’t be happy until I’m elected prime minister.”

The Fairview boy collected 114 votes in his bid at a convention Sunday to become the youngest member of the party executive.

“I think it’s because I look young that I lost,” said the student. “I’m 14, but I look even younger.”

The candidate winning the most votes was Earl Rasmuson, of Wetaskiwin, with 132. The other two vice-presidents were elected with 129 and 127 votes.

“I was a bit surprised that the boy ran, He said he was an honors student and I can believe it. He gave a very good presentation,” said Rasmuson.

Marg Hinton, of Stettler, got 123 votes and, with Peterson, was one of four unsuccessful candidates.

"I was really impressed with him." said Hinton. "I don’t know if I would have supported him if I hadn’t been running but he can contribute a lot to the party. We’ll have to look out for him in years ahead.”

Grant Notley, NDP leader and MLA for Fairview, said he hopes the youth does achieve his ambition of becoming prime minister some day.

“What a fantastic entry into politics. I think he will go far,” said Naylor. “He did well coming so close.”

Peterson’s first became interested in politics three years ago when talking with Notley's wife Sandy, librarian at the junior high school he attends.

And he’s no slouch at political argument, said Mrs. Notley.

“I’ve been talking politics with Jordan for three years and if I’m lucky, I come out on equal basis, at best,” she said.

He’s an outspoken NDP supporter and some of his views include:

— Quebec — “If anyone is going to take Quebec out of Confederation it will be (Premier Rene) Levesque.”

— Premier Peter Lougheed — “He’s always campaigning for our oil rights but he needs more opposition in the legislature.”

— Canada — “Nationalism is our best bet if the country is to stay together.”

— Politics — "I believe the NDP is the party to give more working people a say. Conservatives favor corporations too much."

Jordan said he hopes to help organize regional party youth groups and will stand for office in his area.

Does he see himself as a threat to Notley?

“No — well, not just yet anyhow.”

Peterson’s main interests at school, even though “I talk too much and bug the teachers,” are chemistry, physics and biology. 

The science fiction addict said if he doesn't enter politics as a career, he’d like to work as a scientist.

He said he first planned to run for federal council representative but thought the opposition “pretty wicked” and went for the vice-president’s slot instead.

“As you may have noticed, I am not very old,” Peterson told delegates in his pre-election speech “My age should not be relevant. What is important is that I am willing to work hard and diligently as any older member would.”

“I am willing to learn and listen and speak my mind at provincial council meetings. I will not sit back and do nothing at these meetings.”

Peterson’s father is a school video equipment co-ordinator "and doesn’t take a great deal of interest in politics."

Already, Jordan has quite a following among boys his own age. Val Bombin, 15, a Grade 10 student at Fairview and an observer at the convention was delighted with Jordan’s success.

“He did really well, we’re all very pleased,” she said. “He’s a pretty clever politician.”

Original facsimil: Edmonton_Journal_1977_03_14_11