Political tide turns in Edmonton

Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.

After years of voting in opposition to the governing party, Edmonton has chosen to back Conservative candidates in a big way.

Edmontonians elected 13 Conservative candidates, crushing the 11-seat Edmonton Liberal caucus, and leaving only three seats for the party. The NDP suffered a similar fate, losing half of the four seats it held after the 2004 election.

Liberal Leader Kevin Taft blamed the loss on the Tory party's considerable financial resources, which he says meant the Tories outspent the Liberals "five to one."

He also pointed to the low voter turnout—41 per cent—the lowest in history.

"It's a worry for democracy," Taft said, "when we have less than half the people coming out" 

But he admitted that clearly the voters liked what the Conservatives were offering them.

The change in political direction is major one for voters in the city.

In fact, Edmonton has often been called "Redmonton" because of its propensity to vote against the government in power.

Taft did manage to hang on to his own seat in Edmonton-Riverview by a safe margin of more than 2,200 votes.

NDP Leader Brian Mason was also re-elected easily, in Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood.