guest post: a liberal party perspective on the alberta party.

A political party is more than its list of policies. I supported and was a member of the Alberta Liberal Party but as it became more clear that they were unable to execute a coherent opposition or inspire people I walked away. The Big Difference that the Alberta Party has to have is the ability to execute and the ability to inspire. That’s where I’m my money and my vote.

A few remarks:

1. Your “no-such-things” aren’t quite as clear as you might like to believe. Yes, it is impossible to be purely non-partisan in a party-based political system. However, in my understanding the term “post-partisan” refers to a more enlightened way of doing things. It doesn’t mean that you don’t ever say bad things about the other guys, but rather that you don’t automatically dismiss good ideas simply because they were presented by another party. Are we going to agree on everything? Not a chance, but there’s no reason why we can’t sit down together to come up with solutions to the problems that face us all.

2. It is possible to cross the spectrum. I understand the difference between traditional liberal and conservative ideologies, but it’s fair to say that the parties that bear those names have done a decent job of corrupting what they really mean. “Left” and “right” are constructions of the media and communications-professionals who prefer to easily label people or parties. The Alberta Party refuses to be labeled. People on the right will use its policies to classify them as “left”, but the policies will speak for themselves.

3. You should never count the traditional non-voters out. We saw that happen in Calgary’s mayoral race (and in the interests of full disclosure I was part of Nenshi’s campaign cabinet). Strategists that followed the traditional model have admitted that they didn’t see it coming. Voter turnout is down because most people figure it will be more of the same so why bother. Give them a reason to bother and they’ll show up. I spoke with one woman on election day who was crying (crying!) because she thought she had missed her chance to vote.

4. The sad reality is that any party with the word “Liberal” in its name is unlikely to form government in Alberta anytime soon. It has way too much baggage. Maybe this is just a rebranding exercise, similar to what took place in Saskatchewan where the old PCs came back as the Saskatchewan Party. Not a bad model to follow.

While I support many of the policies of the Alberta Liberals, I am realistic of the fact that they have not ever and likely will not ever have a hope of gaining large numbers of seats or forming a government here in AB. A new name for the politically moderate in AB is the best chance of seeing progressive candidates elected and representing those progressive viewpoints in the legislature.

Additionally, I do not think it is fair to criticize the Alberta Party for their political and economic stance or ‘non-stance’ without first reviewing their policy documents. Even skimming the most recent policy documents released by the party would have demonstrated to you that some of your ideas regarding the party are flawed.

You know, this same argument could be made by the Conservatives about the Wildrose Alliance (and probably has been).

I’m a relatively new resident of Alberta (3 years now) and I came to Alberta with few preconceived notions, other than I thought Ralph Klein was a doofus.

So the field was wide open as to where I might throw my political support. I’ve voted for virtually every party out there at various times, though proud to say, never Stephen Harper.

Since I have been in Alberta I have failed to see the Liberal Party of Alberta as an effective opposition. They have repeatedly failed to capitalize on opportunities to hold the inept Conservatives to account.

While the Liberals may be a natural fit philosophically, I suspect the history, baggage and internal politics of the organization contribute to its complete lack of effectiveness. I really can’t see it changing.

What has interested me about the Alberta Party is a new way of doing things. I see your piece here as simply a defense of the old way of doing politics. It’s no wonder people are searching for new options.

People are sick of the old way of doing politics. There is a quiet revolution happening in Canada, and the old political parties have failed to grasp its significance.

I am tired of rabid partisan politics. We can see its effects in completely ineffective federal and provincial governments. Alberta faces major issues that our current government are incapable of addressing. The provincial Liberals have not proven themselves to me in any way of being capable of taking over and addressing them either. God help us if the Wildrose Alliance replaces the Conservatives. It will be the same, but worse.

I am excited about the Alberta Party and the promise of doing politics differently. I think many Albertans feel the same way.

On Facebook I invited a number of people to ‘like’ the Alberta Party page. The next day I had a relative call me up and ask me about them. This relative identified themselves as a conservative, and they were sick and tired of the way politics has been conducted in Alberta to this point, thus their interest in the Alberta Party and a promise of doing things differently.

Well said, Justin.

I agree with the idea you can’t be post-partisan. Either you’re interested in getting elected and getting power, or you’re not. If you are, you’re going to be partisan.

Now, you might be the sort of party that wants to get into power to change how the game is played from the inside. But that would require the party to have an electoral reform policy, which the Alberta Party doesn’t.

As for there being only one spectrum, you’re wrong there. People have done research and have determined that our political views tend to be associated with at least two spectra. They are correlated, but distinct. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_spectrum

It’s not inconceivable that there could be something that voters cared more about than the relative size of government.

That’s if we assume that your definition of right and left is correct. In my experience, the difference between right and left has to do with two things. People on the left tend to see themselves as more similar to others, or tend to have a higher empathy toward people who are dissimilar. People on the right have a stronger correlation between similarity and empathy. People on the left also tend more to think that the world is chaotic, and people on the right tend to think that it is ordered. I think all of the stuff about how big government should be and how much money you should take from rich people is actually derivative of those two factors. If the world is ordered, and you prefer your close neighbours to the distant ones, then why should we be disturbing the order by taking money from you and your neighbours to spend on someone else?

Second, I don’t know that you’re right in saying that the Alberta Party is claiming to not be on the right-left spectrum. I think they pretty proudly claim the title of moderate.

They could be something else. Indeed, I would prefer if they had taken a position on a new spectrum. If they had taken the time to say what is good, and why it is good, and why the size of the government is only a secondary consideration to that good.

But they haven’t. So they are centrist and proud of it. If right and left don’t inspire, I don’t see how splitting the difference will.

So yes, they are competing with the Liberals for the centre of the spectrum, but not accidentally.

As for whether competing with the Liberals is a bad idea, let’s assume you’re right that there is some sort of generational change coming. I don’t see any signs of it. I think it’s going to be a tougher slog than all that. But let’s assume. Whether competing with the Liberals is a bad idea still depends on whether the Liberals show any signs of being able to do it on their own.

The fact that all these people are getting involved in the Alberta Party instead of the Liberal Party, despite their similarities, is evidence of precisely WHY the Liberals can’t do it on their own. They cannot attract the next generation of active Albertan political moderates.

That is because of two things. First, the Liberal Party, if it is even trying, has failed to commit itself to the idea of succession planning. It has not sought out and promoted the new blood that it needs to keep itself relevant. It is an old man and woman club.

Second, people get involved because they have some hope for change in the future. Hitching your hopes to a party that has lost every election for the last 80 years and refuses to make any changes (a party reform commission whose report is never released, a leader who puts the name on the table and then takes it off) does not seem like such a good idea. If what you want to do is bitch and complain and feel morally righteous? Fits the bill. But change things? No.

The Alberta Party, on the other hand, is centrist without being perceived as un-Albertan. It has literally and figuratively “renewed” itself, so it doesn’t have a history of losing that can be held against it. It’s a place that hopes for change can live, for at least a little while.

Plus, the Alberta Party is capable of attracting people who have been conservatives all their lives. The Liberal Party is not. A Conservative who joins the Alberta Party is a rebel. A Conservative who joins the Liberal Party is a traitor. And there are plenty of former PC members who have found their own reasons for leaving the PC party and joining the AB party. That’s not something that could have been accomplished in the Liberal Party.

So it’s not just about personality and process. It’s about possibility. There is a possibility that a centrist view can win the day if there is a centrist party that is capable of getting new and old energetic people from both sides of the political spectrum to join in. If the Liberal Party is all we had, that possibility was nil.

You are the person that I see as the epitome of the young people who are committed to the Liberal Party at this point. But your conclusion is basically that one or the other party needs to get out of the way.

What does that say about the Liberal Party’s ability to inspire youth? If their own biggest booster is ambivalent about whether they live or die?

I like the idea of “post-partisan” politics meaning it’s not about winning. A lot of people are used to, or need, easily identifiable categories (left, right) but, as you point out, governments across our country slide all over the spectrum. (Manitoba’s NDP government was recently cited as a top fiscal government, for example.)

You mention that the left or centre can’t come together federally to form government. If not for our Governor General we would have see a centre-left coalition governing the country.

Also, some of your comments smack of a Liberal (big L) fearing the one real vote-split on the right won’t benefit the party. I say, if people are choosing MLAs that represent their riding well, represent their values, it doesn’t matter which banner they fly. That, to me, is post-partisan.

Some of the floor-crossers are going to win. If their constituents are voting, even in a small part, for the person, they’re going to win no matter which colour their campaign sign is.

Perhaps, instead of bemoaning the fact majority governments are hard to come by federally and Albertans may have five (five!) legitimate ballot options in the next election (six if there are any independents) we should embrace the abundance of choice. Then we’ll have governments that MUST work together instead of towing party lines.

Moving away from that…

Your comment “…people who didn’t vote last time won’t vote next time.” does not inspire me to think about the Alberta Liberals as a viable choice.

Where’s the optimism? Where’s the push to engage, to get those people to vote? It’s something I see from the NDP, Alberta Party, and even the Wildrose. It appears our oldest political parties are too tired to care about moving beyond status quo.

Justin, your post has been analyzed well. You really got great response. Good for you.

I want to note one of your statements… well… actually your second paragraph, that begins, “I’m the kind of person you would expect to be in the Alberta Party….”

Well… I’m not the sort of guy you’d expect to find in the Alberta Party. I’m middle-aged… I am a farmer and a labourer… Yesterday I butchered a deer… I don’t live in a condo downtown (I think I’d jump out the window if I did)… I don’t have enough money see theatre (unless it’s watching two daughters fight for one bathroom).

I’m in this party because it offers me hope. I don’t see it as perfect. I’m in it with people who are markedly different from me… different experiences… different backgrounds… different everything… but we are all in it because we are dissatisfied with the status quo, which has proven it does not work and we are prepared to find NEW ground to try and fix what is broken.

… and that’s the thing about the Alberta Party that you (I think) are missing; it’s new and fresh and is something Albertans can build together. It might always have to struggle to define itself and “post-partisan” and may sometimes be unsuccessful.

We await you with open arms whenever… if ever… you decide to join. Until then, good luck.

I don’t leave comments here very often, but like Justin I’ve trying to figure out just what the Alberta Party is playing at and where they’ll fall when election time comes.
I agree with a number of your statements: there’s no such thing as post-partisan politics—the Alberta Party will end up taking a position as a party. That to me will be a disappointment as I do hope they embody more a movement than a party, as someone pointed out, maybe it shouldn’t be about winning, maybe it’s about good policy and engaging and inspiring Albertans.
However I have to disagree that support of the Alberta Party is a mistake. And I don’t agree that conservatives, especially small-c, and Red Tory conservatives will flock to the Wildrose. I do think there is room for them in the Alberta Party, and that many of them (people like Hancock or Sherman) would be Liberals if Liberal meant a different thing in Alberta, and perhaps that “thing” is what the Alberta Party is becoming. (*note I’m not pretending Hancock or Sherman will move to the AB Party, just conservatives of their ilk) So in that vein there is room for the AB Party to engage that more mainstream fiscal conservative, socially liberal voter that the Liberal party has not managed to hold on to.
As well, I have to say that isn’t it a good thing to finally inspire people? It’s something the Liberals and NDs have failed to do in a good long time. There are numerous people I know who have taken out party memberships and become engaged where they’ve felt disenfranchised and isolated. Their involvement and re-involvement can only be a good thing for politics in Alberta, regardless of the outcome. But then I’ve always been called an idealist.

to those who keep making the reference to the ALP is not an effective opposition party is out of touch with facts,1) how can an opposition be effective in a majority Government when all Bill’s, Acts, amendments are out voted by the majority, in this case it is a majority of corruption and arrogance, if it not their Idea they vote against it, but if you wait 5 years then they will bring it back in as their Idea and vote it in. I feel the ALP is doing a damn good job especially with the majority that they are facing, I have seen more intelligent discussion by the ALP in the Legislature then I seen from others, nor do they sit there making childish noises or rude childish comments while others are speaking, even when it is a continual dodge of answering the questions at hand, showing more of a Professional stance towards Politics.

The problem with party driven politics in a left-right spectrum is that it does not allow individuals to hold views that are not a part of the party’s ideology. I’m strong supporter of green policies, anti-union, pro business and pro having some type of private health care in place, while still wanting better policies for homeless and education. I also support a single securities regulator and lowering of inter-provincial trade barriers. So which party do I go to? Currently none of the above.

At least with the Alberta Party there is a willingness to listen and compromise. Admittedly, this will change as the party matures and grows; views & policies will become more rigid.

With the way Alberta politics work, none of the current opposition parties have really tried to break with their pasts to attract new ideas and supporters, rather they prefer to stick with the current platforms, donors and supporters (like the AB NDP and its traditional ties to unions) and occasionally wave the topic du jour around (like the AB Liberals suddenly deciding to support green initiatives without really developing concrete goals or measurable actions).

So personally, I’d rather work with the Alberta Party and influence the party while it is still young and forming.

Excellent post, and excellent comments. Something I wanted to add to the discussion was a suggestion that we need to broaden the definition of ‘the spectrum’. The Left vs. Right dichotomy doesn’t really work anymore, because economic and social issues are too often considered seperately. We need (at least) two axes, one for socially conservative-progressive and another for free markets-state control.

Moving to two axes simplifies the Alberta political landscape, as it clearly seperates the NDP from the Liberals/Alberta Party/PCs and also serves to illustrate the gap between the WAP and the PCs. The fundamental point about vote splitting remains, of course, but I think the extra clarity is worthwhile.

Two final points. The first is that the Liberal party is, to a large extent, trapped in an electoral box created by its years of failure and the success of the PCs and Federal Conservatives in poisoning the Liberal brand here in Alberta. Secondly, I think that a lot of the Liberal party’s support is ‘soft’ – votes parked there as the best option for opposition to the PC party. With new options on the ‘right’ and in the ‘centre’ those votes may, if I am correct, be up for grabs. Both factors could play to the Alberta Party’s advantage, provided that it grows sufficiently as an organization to become a viable option.

Great post and great comments. I second Will’s remarks. I am neither a condo-dweller, nor a farmer/labourer. I am not naive about politics in Alberta – nor elsewhere, for that matter. I prefer to be hopeful rather than cynical.

I was impressed by the intelligence, civil dialogue, energy, creativity, compassion, passion, common sense, and diversity at the AP Policy Convention. I went to see if this group was naive and homogenous. It was not.

This was/is politics in the 21st century. Hoorah! The AP’s emergence will get people talking and voting. Interesting times in Alberta.

cut and paste from my facebook comments:

have to agree and disagree… I agree that it is impossible to be non partisan.. a political party has to “stand” for something.. and based on what i’ve seen and read the Alberta Party is a centrist party.
I disagree that this will split the progressive vote..
I believe the centre thinking progressive voters in Alberta see the Liberals as only slight to the right of the NDP,(true or not) and as such are virtually unelectable.
Further, they have had many years to engage the electorate, or make a coalition deal with the NDP, to at least form a viable opposition, and they have failed over and over again. Certainly they don’t act or look like a government in waiting.
I do agree that politics in Alberta is a grass roots movement, I disagree that the majority grassroots movement is in the Wildrose Party. More people here feel disenfranchised here who will turn out if they see a viable less ideologue laden party.
The Alberta Party, is finally engaging and exciting people who have felt left out of Alberta Politics for decades.

I am going to have to disagree here. After the recent Calgary mayor race I beloved it is safe to say…at least calgarians are done with the policies of conservatives. McIver wasn’t voted in for a reason. I see the shift in Alberta moving left, not right.

I think Justin’s analysis is fantastic, and goes a long way to help those new and eager Alberta Party volunteers why there is so much hesitation and trepidation on behalf of their counterparts within the Alberta Liberals. And while the political scientist in me loves the debate on left vs. right (I’ve been a fan of the two axis left v. right and authoritarian v. libertarian schedule but I digress) Justin gets to the right point – what is the world view of your party? And to say you’re past the old tired debate of right v. left is a cop-out, as is stating you’re for progress or a better Alberta – every political party is out for a better Alberta, they just hold a different world view on how to get there.

Justin’s comments about vote splitting don’t come across as wistful or mean – they come across as factual. And it is a part of the reality of the Alberta Party – many of the votes they receive will have been votes the Liberals may have received (as well as some that may have gone PC or NDP, maybe even WAP).

All the same, I’m with Sam – vote your heart, vote your conscience, and for goodness sake vote – vote splitting be damned.

The problem with arguing people should vote for a given party, in this case the ALP, in order to defeat the PCs is that it is an inherently negative argument. This is the same fundamental argument, and suffers from the same problems, as that advanced by the Democratic Renewal Project. It assumes that there is a unity of vision among the non-PC, non-WAP voters of the province. What opportunity is being missed by an artificial union between widely divergent ideas? Change for the sake if change isn’t interesting to me – building a genuinely competitive alternative is, whether that be the Liberals or the Alberta Party.

As an older member of the Alberta Party I have lived my entire adult life under the governance of the conservative party. My parents under the social credit party. I am thrilled with the idea of a party based on the needs of Albertans. Political alignment from Provincial to Federal with the current party formats also brings with history and associated baggage. The concept of taking the best ideas from Albertans for Albertans is what is important to me. The engagment by all on this forum is extremely impressive as you are discussing the future direction and needs of Albertans. The debate is interesting and please keep it up

I believe strongly that the Alberta Liberal party has well-meaning intentions for the people of this province. I believe that, if elected, they would form a good government with centrist values I agree with. And I know there are many talented and hard-working people involved with the Liberal Party.

However, the Liberal party has demonstrated a complete lack of ability to sell their message. What message, you ask? Exactly. They have done a very poor job communicating their policies and their vision for Alberta. They are unable to excite people. They are largely invisible, and are frequently overshadowed by the NDP in opposition, who seem to manage to get more media coverage than our Official Opposition.

On top of all this, the Liberals are saddled with a very (unjustifiably) tainted brand. It is my opinion that given the demographics of voter turnout (older individuals, mostly), that a provincial party with the name Liberal cannot win in Alberta. It’s wrong, but it’s true, and it’s too large an issue to fight.

Therefore, I believe moderates/centrists need a new political home, and a new brand to unite under to actually have a chance at forming a government in Alberta. Justin, this post’s author, implies that the Alberta Party may come along to split the centrist vote, making forming a government nearly impossible. I would argue it is not the Alberta Party holding back a centrist win in Alberta. Rather it’s the continued uninspired, poor-communicating, poorly branded Liberal party that is responsible for this. The underperformance and inabilities of the Liberal Party make the Alberta Party necessary. That may sound harsh, but the Liberals have had decades to make something work, and they have failed.

“I realize that I’m kind of making a cheap argument by not explaining why people should join the ALP. My central point though is that we’re missing an opportunity while the right is divided by separating off into camps like this. What do you think about that, specifically?”

I have to answer this with the @joshkjenner quote “…we’re hoping to create something that doesn’t need a vote split on the right to win.”

Old-style politics have not worked for the last 40 years to create even a viable opposition, let alone a new majority party. Things have to really change up. Alberta Party voters will hold the feet of their elected reps – once they’re in – to the fire. The AP will have to be very smart, nimble, transparent and responsive. It’s what I’ll demand. Albertans deserve no less.

In my view, the “My party is the ONLY one” sentiment I read in many of the responses to this blog will only pave the way for the right wing to dominate Alberta for another 70 years, once again proving the centre-left to be its own worst enemy.

Political parties win because they employ the art of compromise and dialogue. Without intelligent and cleverly planned cooperative strategies to circumvent Canada’s first-past-the-post system, ALL Alberta progressive parties are DEAD in the water. Hope and elbow grease by any one party alone will NOT work. Not in this province.

While I fully understand the need for, and support the democratic right of, the Alberta Party and old Greens (Vision 2012 Society) to form as new parties, I hope their leaders, members, and other progressives understand how temporary cooperation in the goal of Proportional Representation has, by necessity, to be a HIGHER goal than the right to vote for one’s party in all ridings during the next election. PR is the only realistic path in Alberta to electoral reform and success, and needs to be won first, after which time party supporters can squabble and cancel out each others’ votes all they like.

If not… divided we fall, as per usual. (Perhaps Dave will do us the honor of running this same blog again the morning after the next election. With what I’m reading here, I dare say there’ll be a good bit of Ground Hog Day disappointment in the air.

It has been very interesting to read and think about the many responses to Justin’s guest blog, and after most of the fuss has dissipated, I finally have a position to add. Two, actually – one in response to one of Justin’s points, and one in response to one of the responders. And finally, a word about post-partisanship.

As others in ths thread have commented, I think it is a very telling mind-set, that is not shared by the Alberta Party, to say there is no point in worrying about those who didn’t vote last time, because they likely won’t next time either. How many times have many of us heard, “I am not going to vote. I won’t vote for this government, but there is no alternative.” As a campaign manager in Drayton Valley/Calmar in 2008, I can tell you that we heard this many, many times throughout the campaign. We had a credible candidate, an impressive campaign, and our voter turnout was significantly above provincial average. We placed second, more than doubling our previous campaign, and we got the conversation going! Recently, in Rimbey (not known for rabid engagement in politics) the municipal voter turnout was something over 70%. A lot of people who didn’t vote in 2007 came to the polls this time. The Alberta Party will not turn its back on disaffected voters. Many of our Big Listen participants have been part of that 60%. Some of our new members come from this pool that you would ignore, as well. I am proud to be associated with a party that is committed to all Albertans, and interested in learning the pressures and hopes they have for our future. I share those hopes and concerns. The thing that separates me from them as a citizen of this province, right now, is the x I placed on a ballot nearly 3 years ago. A difference that can be remedied. (and no, I will not stay home from the polls.)

The second response is to Mike, who wrote: “Swann has put his leadership on the line in trying to do politics differently numerous time. One of his first speeches in the assembly was on the need to quit the fighting and bickering in the legislature. He has now maddened people in his own party by trying to work with others. If the AP is so interested in doing politics differently, why don’t you practice what you preach and take him up on his offer. Maybe in this next election don’t run candidates where they have incumbents and run everywhere else.” The Alberta Party’s response to this suggestion exhibits one of many values the Alberta Party does not share with the Alberta Liberals. The Alberta Party has stated very clearly that it does not serve democracy, or Albertans, to go into some board room and divide up the political pie. Removing choice from that ballot is fundamentally against the principles of the Alberta Party. Recently I heard Dr. Swann (who I do admire very much) make a presentation at a ReBoot Alberta conference. In his presentation, which the audience was given to understand was to be a discussion of the merits of the Liberal Party, he began by telling the crowd that now was the time to get together to beat the Conservatives. The rest of his presentation resembled a good, old fashioned stump speech about how terrible the PC’s are, and how we must beat them. In a setting such as that, where the talk had been so forward thinking, and had involved exchanges of ideas and affirmation of values, I could only think, “Wow, he has taken some really bad advice.” More than being about beating the PC’s, the Alberta Party is about developing practical, workable and responsible government for the good of the people of Alberta. This has been their MO for the past year. Going forward, I would expect nothing less. What does a prospective voter learn from someone who would talk trash? When I bought my car a few years ago, I do not recalll the salesman making his pitch, “Buy this Toyota, because all those other brands suck.” I sure did hear a lot about the virtues of the Toyota. Glad I bought it.

I think the term post-partisan is an unfortunate one. And sadly, it has become some sort of a beacon by which people try to define the Alberta Party. There are partisans in the party. They have come from every political colour and stripe. The glorious thing, though, is that they have the ability to share their perspectives, to speak and be heard, to give and take, and to let their ideas be improved by others at the table. The Alberta Party lives partisanship in the very broadest sense of the word, and because its organizers and volunteers adhere to a very clearly defined set of values, there is a conscious recognition of “why we are in it.” We are in it for Albertans. It’s the party for me. Everyone is welcome.

A thoughtful post. Could the Albert Liberal Party and the Alberta Party merge? A number of the comments suggest the ALP will never get elected no matter their policies, leadership, etc. The baggage of the name (for whatever reason) is too much to overcome. And, it is true: if you look at the numbers, electoral turnout remains in a general range and it is a rare and unique convergence of events/personalities that trigger an increase in engagement. So, given a small variance in voter turnout and five parties on the ballot, I imagine that neither the ALP or the AP will do well. Why couldn’t these parties unite and shake up electoral interest? I encourage these parties to get past history, the need to be right, territorial claims on (centre/left) and get on with it.

Sorry Ken – but I’m not seeing it.

I recently resigned from involvement with the PC Party and was looking at somewhere to plant my feet.. and the Alberta Party has way too much owed to the left side of politics to make a serious run. They are courting NDP’s, when they need to court PC’s to take the centrist right needed to be taken seriously in Alberta.

Insightful and bang on…from someone who has been been involved in Alberta grassroots politics for a long time.

Like Justin, I admire the players in the Alberta Party however, changing the name of the ALP or making it sexy is not what will change Alberta voters minds. The polls identify Alberta Party as gathering only 3% of the vote, PC’s at 36%, WR at 29%, ALP 14% and NDP at 13% This will bring about a minority government if trend continues.

The Alberta Party numbers are far too low to be considered relevant in decision making or having staff to field research. All the Alberta Party will achieve is splitting the vote, spending extra funds and people resources.

Once again those in the centre will be further from achieving a more responsible, fairer, and tolerant government in Alberta.