Wednesday, April 17, 2019
~ by Mary P Brooke, West Shore Voice News
Premier Rachel Notley’s NDP government fell to defeat in the Alberta provincial election last night. Formerly the majority government for four years, as a result of the April 16 general election the NDP’s seat count is now 24, down from 52.
Of 87 ridings, the United Conservative Party (UCP) under the leadership of Jason Kenney captured 63, with 54.8% of the vote compared to the NDP’s 32.1%.
Notley’s concession speech at 9:45 pm (Mountain Time) Tuesday evening in Edmonton was gracious and informative about the successes of her government in areas of both social and economic policy. Had she delivered with that tone and type of rightful claim to success during the campaign, there might have been a different result. Her personal attacks on Kenney were not statesman-like but carping. It’s almost as if she feels more comfortable battling to the top than being there.
As the premier for four years, Notley could have maintained ground on her government’s record. She also didn’t maintain good relations with next-door-NDP-BC, choosing instead to go to battle in a way that couldn’t help but distance fellow NDP-er Premier John Horgan and his government.
During this 2019 campaign and it’s almost as if she forgot to shed the long-held opposition tone of climbing to the top. In the last four years Notley missed absorbing or acquiring the proverbial ‘royal jelly’ that it takes to lead with panache and sense of place.
However, other than her blip in time as Premier from May 2015 to April 2019, Notley’s achievement of 24 seats last night is to leave the progressive NDP significantly stronger than prior to May 2015 when she led the full break of 40-year conservative domination in Alberta politics. Her party had only four seats prior to the May 2015 election. Now she leads a new Official Opposition.
The pendulum has swung back to conservative, something former Prime Minister Stephen Harper was clearly pleased about, as seen in his beaming smile in a TV coverage crowd shot during Kenney’s acceptance speech last night.
However, two things have changed significantly. With the remaining strength of the NDP in the upcoming legislative composition, there is now a robust two-party counterpoint in Alberta politics. That’s much different than when conservative politics ruled for 40 years without much room for any liberal or progressive voice. Many people achieved great wealth in the energy sector while others fell fall behind. As well, there is a strong polarization of the political base in Alberta’s two major urban centres: NDP support in Edmonton under Notley versus UCP supportive in Calgary under Kenney.
Neither the Alberta Party nor the provincial Liberal Party won any seats last night. “We will strive to be a government for all,” said premier-designate Jason Kenney.
Kenney in his speech last night went broad on the economic file. He addressed national interests, setting Alberta as a leading economic force for the country. and internationally. “Alberta is open for business,” he said to the nation and the world, naming the United States and China in his remarks.
Delivering parts of his speech in fluent French, Kenney also appealed to Quebec to push for an oil pipeline heading east from Alberta, setting pipeline politics into high gear. Yet at the same time his nearest neighbour — the province of BC — was an instant target in Kenney’s speech, as getting the Trans Mountain Pipeline twinned to BC tidewater is Alberta’s goal and Kenney has already positioned himself to play hardball. He has already threatened to have legislation in place that could be used to cut off oil delivery to BC if things don’t go what he sees as the right way for his province.
He also went sharply on the offensive against the left, particularly environmentalists: “To the Rockefellers Brothers Fund, to the Tides Foundation, to Leadnow, to the David Suzuki Foundation, your days of pushing around Albertans with impunity just ended,” delivered Kenney with the fire and brimstone of a TV pastor. There is grit in his politics but panache in his style. This is a potent combination that will very likely skyrocket Kenney to international recognition overnight and produce for him a lot of popular sway among like-minded premiers across Canada.
BC Premier John Horgan phoned Kenney today, with words of congratulation. “Our brief conversation was constructive and focused on issues that matter to both Alberta and British Columbia. We agreed to talk about challenges in the days ahead,” said Horgan, according to a BC Government news release. “I look forward to further conversations and working together in the interests of both of our provinces,” said Horgan.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau issued a statement this morning: “Albertans have chosen to elect a majority government led by the United Conservative Party. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my sincere congratulations to Jason Kenney who will have the honour and privilege to serve as Premier. I look forward to working with the provincial government to create good, middle class jobs, build infrastructure, and grow the businesses and industries at the heart of Alberta’s prosperity so the province can remain competitive in our changing economy,” said Trudeau.
With a direction for national leadership, Trudeau continued: “Together, we will address issues of importance to Albertans and all Canadians, including supporting canola producers, and taking decisive action on climate change while getting our natural resources to market.
Trudeau also thanked Rachel Notley for her years of service as Premier.
There are no longer any female premiers in Canada, compared to a few of notable stature in recent years including Christy Clark in BC (March 2011 to July 2017) and Alison Redford in Alberta (October 2011 to March 2014) who leaned right, and Kathleen Wynne in Ontario (February 2013 to June 2018) who governed from the centre but leaned left.
Ontario-born Jason Kenney, who will turn 51 in May, will be sworn in as the 18th Premier of Alberta on April 30.
Kenney held numerous high-profile positions in the Harper Conservative government between 2006 and 2015. In July 2016 he announced his intention to run for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta on a platform of merging with the conservative-minded Wildrose Party. In July 2017 the United Conservative Party was formed and he became its leader on October 28, 2017.
He took post-secondary studies in philosophy, including at a Jesuit university in San Francisco. He is an alumnus of St Michael’s University School in Victoria, BC.
Kenney was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997. Before that in 1990, Kenney was named president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, a national organisation that scrutinizes governmental expenditures.
The 2019 provincial election was the first time Elections Alberta allowed voters to cast ballots at any polling station during advance voting, regardless of the riding they live in. Of about 696,000 advance votes cast between April 9 and 13, Elections Alberta said 223,000 were under the new “vote anywhere” option. And with some advance votes yet to be counted, the difference between an NDP or UCP win in three Calgary ridings could come down to just a few votes.