General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTed Cruz's Birthplace (Alberta Canada) Turns Socialist! (40 year Conservative Dynasty Ends.)
Alberta is the Texas of Canada, and it's been fueled by oil money, and ruled by the Conservative Party for over 40 years. It was basically a one party rule province. In an historic 'tipping point' election, the socialist NDP party has just been elected, and the Conservatives are COMING IN THIRD! (A few months ago, I would have predicted the NDP forming a government in Alberta as being slightly less likely than Bernie Sanders becoming President of the United States. But you'd be surprised how fast hard-core capitalist cowboys turn into democratic socialists when the price of oil drops.)
http://www.cbc.ca/news/elections/alberta-votes/alberta-election-2015-the-latest-results-1.3062605
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)But yea for them and their citizens.
okaawhatever
(9,479 posts)LuvNewcastle
(16,869 posts)Some people do learn from their mistakes. After all that's happened here for the last 40 years or so, I'm really starting to wonder if Americans will ever learn from theirs.
Sen. Walter Sobchak
(8,692 posts)The Conservatives were doomed when Allison Redford wasn't thrown in jail. The Liberals are dead and Wild Rose mortally wounded.
It was also my first election after becoming a Canadian citizen last year.
vadermike
(1,417 posts)gotta love it!!
laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)You are correct about the Bernie Sanders thing. I never thought I'd live to see this day. However, Alberta has been trending leftward for awhile now (starting with Naheed Nenshi's election in Calgary), and the only reason the conservatives won the last election was because most left wingers voted for them to keep the surging Wildrose (who are to the right of the Conservatives) out of power. Wildrose then self-destructed, leaving the left wingers free to vote for who they really wanted to vote for in the first place.
Alberta also has one of the youngest populations amongst the provinces and younger people trend left. The difference is they do turn out to vote here (my daughter has some friends who just turned 18 and they ALL went out and voted NDP).
I'd like to point out Rachel Notley ran an excellent campaign. She was genuine and polished. Her father, Grant Notley, was well respected as an NDP leader until his death in a plane crash back in the 80's. So, she was a familiar face, and her campaign was great. No apologies from her for wanting to raise corporate taxes and speaking out against the keystone pipeline. That's how left leaning politicians need to act. No apologies. Stand up for your beliefs. People can spot a phony a mile away.
There are some lessons in that for other politicians.
Now c'mon my friends to the south - you can do it too!
u4ic
(17,101 posts)I knew actors in the late 80's who were moving to AB specifically because of the generous arts funding. Klein put a stop to that.
Peter Lougheed helped refine and make AISH, which is the provincial disability program, the best in the country.
Jan Reimer, mayor of Edmonton in the early 90's, was very progressive and the top notch recycling program that is in place today is because of her.
Both Rachel Notley, MLA (and now premier!!) and Linda Duncan, MP, were elected in their riding long before Nenshi was elected Mayor.
I didn't live in Calgary and can't answer to that one, but there has long been a progressive movement in Edmonton.
Thrilled for you all out there!!
Grey
(1,581 posts)Rachel Notley rules..
Monk06
(7,675 posts)Could see a Tory crossover to Liberals in the fall to hold off an NDP federal win or Libs and NDP could agree to a coalition ahead of time.
Either way I'm hoping for the end of the shiny lipped one.
Monk06
(7,675 posts)Jack Rabbit
(45,984 posts)OK, US lefties . . . ya gotta believe!!
TheMightyFavog
(13,770 posts)This is like Oklahoma turning blue in all houses and the Governor's mansion.
healthnut7
(249 posts)I've posted in another thread what happened but saw this tweet and have to share here as well.
For you Americans confused about Alberta election
Democrats won Texas state senate and Elizabeth Warren is now Governor
n2doc
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