West Yellowhead’s NDP candidate, Eric Rosendahl and the New Democratic Party did the impossible Tuesday night, clinching enough seats to form a majority government in Alberta and ending the Progressive Conservative’s 44-year dynasty.
In a huge upset, Rosendahl unseated PC incumbent Robin Campbell, the province’s former finance minister who represented West Yellowhead for the past seven years.
“It’s exciting,” said Rosendahl over the phone from Hinton, “it’s great and I have to thank the constituents for voting for me.
“I knew that it was going to be a tight race, but in the end we came out on top and I have to thank Robin Campbell for running and Stuart Taylor for running as well.”
The NDP swept the province, clinching 53 seats and 41 per cent of the popular vote.
The Wildrose party won 21 seats, enough to form the official opposition and relegate the PCs to third place with 10 seats. Prior to the election, the PCs held 70 seats in the legislative assembly.
Elections Alberta has initiated a recount in the riding of Calgary-Glenmore after a tie between the PC and NDP candidate.
“I’m disappointed,” said Campbell, after watching the election results at the Edson and District Recreation Complex.
“I think over the last seven years I’ve done a pretty good job as an MLA. I’m proud of my record, I’m proud of all that I’ve done in the riding.”
He said he was disappointed the conservative vote was split between the Progressive Conservatives and the Wildrose.
“The people have spoken and the people are always right at the end of the day and we’ll move on,” he said, adding that he will take some time to think about his next move.
According to unofficial results from Elections Alberta, Rosendahl took the early lead, eventually winning the West Yellowhead riding with 39 per cent of the popular vote.
Campbell placed second with 32.3 per cent of the vote, while Taylor, of the Wildrose party, placed third with 28.7 per cent of the popular vote.
In all, 10,620 votes were cast in West Yellowhead with 4,141 votes in favour of Rosendahl, 3,433 votes for Campbell and 3,046 votes for Taylor.
In Jasper, all seven polls returned a result in favour of Rosendahl, with the NDP candidate tallying 825 of Jasper’s 1,204 votes.
Following the election, Taylor congratulated Rosendahl for his win and thanked the members of the Wildrose party, his volunteer supporters and everyone who voted for him.
“I was pleased to see 20 Wildrose MLAs join the 29th legislative assembly and become the official opposition,” he said.
The shocking defeat of the Progressive Conservative party was predicated in poll after poll leading up to the election, but many analysts were skeptical given the PC’s miraculous comeback in 2012.
“I think we might have made a little bit of history tonight,” said Rachel Notley, premier elect, during her victory speech in Edmonton.
“I am deeply humbled. I want to pledge to you, the people of Alberta, that we will work every day to earn your trust. It’s been said before and it’s true, you can’t go wrong if you stay in touch with the values and common sense of Albertans.
“To every Albertan, you know the weather is what it is, but I’ll tell you this, spring has arrived. A new day has begun. You voted for change, for better public healthcare, for better schools and for good family supporting jobs and we will answer your call. The challenges are great and there will be bumps along the road, but I pledge to you that I will always work to keep your trust.”
For PC leader Jim Prentice, it was a bittersweet moment as he accepted his party’s defeat and stepped down as the elected member for Calgary-Foothills.
“While I am personally saddened by the decision, the voters are always right in our democracy,” he said to a crowd in Calgary.
“Clearly, however, my contribution to public life is now at the end. It is time for me to dedicate my time to the other responsibilities I have as a husband, as a father and grandfather. Accordingly, I have resigned as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta, effective immediately, and furthermore I will step aside as the elected member of the legislative assembly for Calgary-Foothills.”
Brian Jean, leader of the Wildrose Party, cruised to victory in his own riding of Fort McMurray-Conklin, and praised the work of his team.
“What an incredible election and what a change in Alberta, it’s unbelievable,” said Jean.
“Not only did we keep our three seats that we had before this election, but we have actually more than four times the amount of seats than we started this race with,” he said, adding that his party proved pundits wrong.
Liberal leader, David Swann was re-elected in Calgary-Mountain view, as the sole liberal seat. Alberta Party leader Greg Clark also won his seat in Calgary.
With the NDP in power, Albertans can expect to see the corporate tax rate rise from 10 per cent to 12 per cent and the minimum wage increase to $15 per hour by 2018.
Notley has also stated the NDP will work with the energy sector to secure jobs, but said her party would review oil and gas royalties and withdraw provincial support for the Northern Gateway pipeline to the British Columbia coast.
On the education front, the NDP has promised stable, predictable funding for school boards, reduced class sizes, a freeze on university tuition fees and a plan to phase in all-day kindergarten.
For families, the party has promised to introduce a $25-a-day childcare system, as finances permit, and promised a slew of new environmental policies, including phasing out coal-fired electricity and implementing the 2007 United Nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples.
In healthcare, the NDP ran on a promise to eliminate the PCs’ proposed healthcare levy, replacing it with a more progressive income tax for the top 10 per cent of earners in Alberta. They have also promised to shorten emergency room waiting times by creating 2,000 long-term care beds over four years.
“Albertans have voted for change and one of the changes they voted for was a new kind of respect and a new kind of relationship with their government,” said Notley. “The government belongs to you and you will be treated with respect.”
