UPDATE: What will Alberta election mean for Saskatchewan?

Incoming Alberta premier Rachel Notley said Wednesday she is going to be reaching out to oil executives to reassure them of her plans.

The lack of experience means that when oil prices recover and investors look to return to Albertathey will have a lot of questions about the new leadership, according to Gunter, “because they are not sure what this government will do.”

That could pose a problem for newly Notley with a caucus full of people “convinced that global warming is happening” and “absolutely convinced that fossil fuels are causing it.”

“She is going to have trouble holding a lid on that,” Gunter said.

“It’s too early to tell. You know they won and they deserve a crack at governing.”

Former Saskatchewan NDP Candidate reacts to Alberta election

Watching the election from home in awe as cabinet ministers fell to young NDP candidates, former Saskatchewan NDP candidate Ryan Meili said the new Alberta government needs to credit its strong federal candidates for this shift away from the status quo towards the New Democratic Party.

“There’s credibility, under Jack Layton and now Thomas Mulcair’s leadership, that has been established that suddenly we’re not believing anymore that we’re a two-party country,” Meili said.

“It’s a complete change in our mental electoral map.”

With the NDP trumping the 44-year grip the Progressive-Conservatives had on Alberta, Meili said this could lead to more surprises as the country heads into another season of federal and provincial elections.

“All the other scripts which we think are fixed, how things will breakdown in the federal and other provincial elections are now up for possibility for change,” he said. “The message was loud and clear — if you lose track of why you’re (in power) you might get away with that for a while, but eventually you’ll get called out and change will come.”

While Meili acknowledges Alberta will be governed by young and inexperienced members, the central ideology directing the party will prevail.

The combination of foresight, strategic planning, and a stroke of luck landed Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority (SREDA) president and CEO Alex Fallon in Calgary after the election to talk business in Saskatoon.

“The timing worked out well and I’m looking forward to talking with a lot of Alberta companies about what Saskatoon and Saskatchewan have to offer,” Fallon said on the Brent Loucks Show Wednesday morning.

“It’s going to be a busy day and it’s quite the day to be here.”

Fallon said the election results might have a small impact on luring business and investment to the bridge city but he expects it will still land with the numbers.

“At the moment it’s all about the growth and the solid diversified economy we have in the Saskatoon region,” he said pointing to economic, GDP, and population growth.

Fallon believes there is a different climate in Calgary with a lot of people talking about their surprise, excitement, and nervous feelings in the wake of the NDP majority win.

The “dynasty collapsed yesterday,” according to Canada Research Chair in Public Policy at the Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School (JSGS) of Public Policy at the University of Saskatchewan, Daniel Béland.

Béland said that because the Progressive Conservatives were in power so long and the economy was not doing well because of falling oil prices, people in Alberta were looking for a change.

“I think the decision of Jim Prentice, the premier, to call an early election a year before it was due… in order to use the fact that the Wildrose was basically falling apart… people didn’t like this,” he said on the Brent Loucks Show Wednesday morning.

“Many people thought this is an unnecessary election and this is just opportunism… the type of approach that is a cheap shop at the opposition to grab all the power for no other reason than serving self interest.”

Gunter also pointed out the election is less an NDP win and more of a Progressive Conservative loss.

“Oppositions don’t normally win elections, governments lose them. That’s what clearly happened here,” he said.

With the Wildrose Party still reeling after the floor crossing and the Progressive Conservatives still mired in controversy from their recent budget and former Premier Alison Redford, Béland said it was a great opportunity for the NDP to step in with a charismatic leader.

“Rachel Notley emerged a bit from nowhere during the debate. The televised debate was very important. She showed strength, she was able to really stand on her own against Prentice,” he said.

“She looked also like someone serious who could be trusted at least in the eyes of many voters.”

Even with a strong leader, a majority win was “stunning” according to Béland.

“It’s only the second alternation in Alberta, the second time a party switches in power since the Second World War,” he said.

Béland will join Rose Olfert, JSGS Professor Emerita; and John Courtney, JSGS Policy Fellow for a panel discussion about what Alberta’s election means for Canada at the University of Saskatchewan on Thursday in the prairie room in the Diefenbaker Building at 10:30 a.m.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow

by CKOM News

UPDATE: What will Alberta election mean for Saskatchewan?

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