The incumbent government of Premier Notley and the New Democratic Party is likely on its way out, after only one term, it looks like
After the NDP defeated the Progressive Conservative gouvernement four years ago, and the more conservative Wild Rose Party, the conservatives in Alberta went through some soul-searching and ended up re-organising in the Alberta United Conservative Party (UCP). They’re now led by Jason Kenney, a former federal Cabinet Minister in the Harper goverenment
Polls say Kenney and the UCP are likely to form a government. Only question will likely be how big the NDP will be in Opposition.
“UCP leads NDP by eight points in ore-election poll as Alberta’s advance voting surges”
In my extremely unscientific poll of “who wants to win this election more?” I have to give the edge to the UCP. So far, I’ve received:
UCP: Three pieces of campaign literature, and two door-to-door visits from the candidate (on the second, the candidate greeted me by name).
NDP: One piece of campaign literature; zero visits from the candidate.
All other parties: Nothing.
In fairness, I must say that local media has been giving equal time to all local candidates, in both local ridings (the city of Lethbridge has two ridings), and to candidates in nearby rural ridings as well. All have explained the issues and their positions on them, so we are well-informed as to all sides, and perhaps don’t need lots of campaign literature. But I am surprised at the lack of door-to-door campaigning from the NDP candidate.
From a far distance (Ontario) it looks like the UPC wins. I’d like to think Notley stays as leader of the NDP and then runs in the next election. The surveys I’ve seen, seem to paint her in a favourable light and experience at running a government is priceless, especially if the NDP plan to win back the legislature.
Probably not, but it does make in impression if only 1 political party is coming for your vote. I’d guess the NPD are concentrating heavily on maintaining urban seats in Calgary and Edmonton.
I think the NPD won all ridings in Edmonton (19) and 75% of Calgary (14 of 25) and that gives/gave them 33 seats out of a possible 87. Weird that Lethbridge isn’t seeing more NDP though…I thought the NDP won 2 ridings there didn’t they?
They did. Lethbridge only has two ridings, and the NDP took both of them in the last election.
Which is why I’m surprised at the lack of effort, at least in my riding. You’d think that the NDP would want to hold onto what they already have. There are lawn signs for the NDP candidate, but those are just about the only indication that the NDP is running a candidate in my riding.
My understanding is that predictions were overwhelmingly for a UCP win. I guess we’ll find out in a few hours.
What worries me is not the claim that this represents a sort of new conservatism that is sweeping Canada; first Quebec, then Ontario, and now Alberta. East of Alberta this is mostly Canadian-style conservatism. Here in Ontario, for example, Doug Ford liberalized liquor laws, opened cannabis stores, and announced a plan for free dental care for all seniors. My worry is that from what I know of Jason Kenney and the UCP, this is extreme US-Republican style conservatism.
I think it depends on if she quits after losing and how fast. That is making the assumption that the NDP loses, my thought was that she called the election early enough, that if she did lose , she could make the jump to the Federal side. Either NDP or Liberal, or is it too late to file papers for any particular riding.
Well, I just got back from voting. It wasn’t very busy, but based on the number of ballots already in the box (it was stuffed nearly full), it must have been quite busier earlier.
At any rate, it looks like lots of people are getting out and voting, which is a good thing.
Polls say that the conservatives will be elected, and I expect this will be borne out.
I also expect that those who enjoy magical thinking will find themselves disappointed by the next 4 years.
-Kenny will not magically bring back jobs to the oil patch - jobs that for the most part are NEVER coming back.
-Kenny will not singlehandedly raise the world price of oil.
-Kenny will try to “turn off the taps” to punish BC. This will not work. It’s a stupid idea, that morons at the end of the bar like to come up with at the end of a bout of drinking.
Kenny WILL cut the corporate tax. By a lot. This is the main thing in his platform he can do. This will result in huge deficits, which will then give him the excuse to cut social programs. By a lot. Which is pretty much the game plan.
At the end of all this, there will be no pipeline, no additional jobs, a bigger debt and social programs gutted. And Kenny will blame others. The primary goal in the short term is to Blame Trudeau. Because Trudeau is EVIL and is Trying To Destroy The Country. Later, Kenny will blame pretty much everyone for his failures.
Turning into a neck-and-neck horse race here in Lethbridge West. The NDP candidate has just a 30 vote lead over the UCP candidate, with less than half the polls reporting.
