Rachel Notley slated to become Alberta premier after NDP wins election in a landslide

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      The NDP is poised to form government after jumping out to a large lead in the Alberta election.

      As of 9:15 p.m., the party had 40 percent of the votes compared to 28 percent for the Progressive Conservatives and nearly 25 percent for the Wildrose party.

      This has prompted many media outlets to declare that NDP leader Rachel Notley will preside over a majority government.

      It marks the end of the 43-year reign of the Progressive Conservatives.

      Because the Wildrose vote is more concentrated, it's expected to form the Official Opposition.

      Progressive Conservative Leader Jim Prentice was reelected in Calgary-Foothils. He announced that he's quitting as party leader.

      The NDP did spectacularly well in Edmonton, winning all 19 constituencies.

      Notley lived for a few years in the Vancouver area in the 1990s and early 2000s, working for a former B.C. NDP government and for the Health Sciences Association of B.C.

      Her upbeat campaign reminded many observers of the Jack Layton–led Orange Wave, which catapulted the federal New Democrats into the Official Opposition in the 2011 election.

      Her stance on pipelines is significantly different from that of Prentice, a vice chair of CIBC before becoming premier.

      On May 2, Notley told CBC Radio's The House program that she opposes the proposed Keystone XL pipeline because it would ship diluted bitumen out of the province, depriving jobs for Alberta workers.

      In April, she told the Calgary Herald that she would pull provincial support from the Northern Gateway pipeline project if she were elected premier.

      At the time, she cited environmental issues and First Nations opposition.

      Notley has spoken favourably about the proposed Energy East pipeline.

      Rachel Notley's positive campaign energized New Democrats.

      Comments

      17 Comments

      Mark Murphy

      May 5, 2015 at 10:20pm

      Jaysus, it's nice to get good news now and then, isn't it?

      J.M.T.

      May 5, 2015 at 10:50pm

      Yes, it sure is. Hey Christy, isn't this great?

      Artoo

      May 6, 2015 at 5:15am

      Not long ago, BC was NDPs to take, had they not screwed up so royally. Layton would be proud of Notley and Alberta.

      What the....?

      May 6, 2015 at 7:15am

      I was expecting a minority NDP at best but not this. I think we can say this wasn't so much a victory for the NDP, but a victory against PC arrogance. When Canadians get tired of a party they have a tendency to swing way to the other side and almost render the offending party extinct.

      It'll be interesting to see if Harper is less arrogant and condescending towards his opponents in the next few months. I'm sure the Cons are going through this election with a fine toothed comb.

      I also expect to see the NDP make a complete mess of it, although the Alberta version is less extreme than BC's.

      View from the Coast

      May 6, 2015 at 7:43am

      Thrilled to see a government next door that wants to help people thrive directly rather than via the pissed on theory of economics.
      But less face it, Harper Co. and Canada corp. will lie and do everything it can to punish the people of Alberta and Rachel Notley. Harper has enacted laws in this country that will allow cash to flow out of our country like gasoline.

      out at night

      May 6, 2015 at 9:08am

      It wasn't a dream after all! Wow!

      Grant

      May 6, 2015 at 12:20pm

      The Black Press legislative reporter must really be in distress now. The world has come to an end.

      about time

      May 6, 2015 at 12:24pm

      I'd call her a socially conscious and fiscally responsible Albertan who understands that politicians are not elected to fill their pockets. She isn't pandering to big oil and is community minded - a decent person with a law degree - smart (if I had my way, a law degree with a minimum IQ would be required for all politicians).

      She could have won on any party and her values transcend party lines. She isn't some wacko left wing ideologue. She's a right wing socialist who balances the books and cares more about health care and public education than subways for transit scammers to fleece taxpayers who are paying idiots to funnel our money to SNC Lavalin building expensive infrastructure, here.

      Anyhow. I'm glad that she won.

      SPY vs SPY

      May 6, 2015 at 12:27pm

      Adrian Dix and BC NDP lead BC Liberals (Really Socred, Canadian Conservative Reform Alliance Party - C -CRAP and be all the CRAP you can be) by 10% - 15% !!!!!

      A sure win - If you have the faintest idea of how to run a Political Campaign!!!!

      John Horgan - are you still alive??? We never hear form you - maybe your gonna pull the old Carole James sleeper trick at te
      he last minute - EH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Surprise Surprise

      May 6, 2015 at 10:51pm

      Dear Ms. Notley,

      Congratulations on defeating the Old Boys Club.

      Please, Please , Please don't piss away this huge opportunity to show Canada how a Social Democracy can work.

      I'm rooting for you.