Alberta election may obliterate Tories, challenge raw NDP

Political pundits (like everyone else) are still talking today about the stunning turn of events Tuesday night. 

Edmonton AM's Eye on the Legislature Paul McLoughlin, former Tory cabinet minister Doug Griffiths and Edmonton Journal columnist Paula Simons all joined Mark Connolly Wednesday with their analysis.

Here is some of their insight.

What the heck just happened?

• It was a repudiation of the Conservatives across the political spectrum; "Albertans saying 'enough is enough,'" Simons said.

• Griffiths reached to the old saw that oppositions don't win elections, governments lose them. "I argued with people even right up to yesterday," he said. "I thought there were pretty significant changes coming."

• "The NDP rode the wave … right into office," McLoughlin said. "I don't think they had any control over it."

Did you hear Prentice's bitter speech?

• "To resign his seat before the vote was even done counting … will harm his reputation," said Griffiths. "A move out of anger and frustration, I think will cost him."

  I've never seen anything like it in Canadian politics. It was astounding. It was an insult to the people who had just elected him.- Paul McLoughlin

• Prentice's speech will likely destroy the Progressive Conservative party, McLoughlin said. "I've never seen anything like it in Canadian politics. It was astounding. It was an insult to the people who had just elected him."
• ​McLoughlin called Prentice's speech an expression of contempt for his supporters and disrespectful of the democratic process. "By that, he may have effectively killed the Conservative party as well — because it showed how the leadership class in that party actually felt about Albertans and about the conservatives in Alberta," he said.
• "It was about him, not about the province, not about the future," McLoughlin said. "I think Peter Lougheed turned over in his grave. I don't think the party has anywhere to go after that kind of performance."
• McLoughlin predicted only the Wildrose party will be around to represent right-leaning voters in four years.

Is Notley up to the daunting challenges?

• Notley's first job to reduce the expectations of her supporters, Simons said. "When the honeymoon glow wears off, she's going to have a huge job ahead to create a cabinet out of a bunch of very green people. She's got 50 new members. That's a lot of backbenchers to manage, too."

• "The first thing I think she'll want to do is meet with business and industry people to let them know there's nothing to be afraid of," said Griffiths

• Notley will have to draw up a budget — and fast, McLoughlin said. Having a majority will help, but the process is complex and there's not a lot of time, he said. As for raising corporate taxes and royalties, "they're going to do it." It will be difficult, but the NDP will be able to stand up to pressure from the oil and gas industry — the same pressure that bowed former premier Ed Stelmach — because the party can say it represents all of Alberta.

• Listen to Paul McLoughlin interview here

• Listen to Doug Griffiths/Paula Simons election panel here

• Listen to former NDP Ray Martin here