It's like if Texas turned blue overnight: Alberta's elections toss out 44 years of conservative rule

[telemann.livejournal.com]

Stephen Harper's scream

If the NDP wins the Alberta election, it will simply be more proof of climate change. Because Hell will have officially frozen over.

— Allan Pero (@AllanPero) May 6, 2015

There has been precious little coverage about a massive shift to the left in Canada's most conservative region. If Canada has an equivalent to Texas, that would likely be Alberta, notoriously, dependability and consistently conservative. The recent election has ended a 44 year overwhelming conservative run in the provincial parliament. Alberta is the home province for Stephen Harper and many conservative leaders in the Canadian federal government. One political commentator wistfully noted commented on the election results: "Pigs do fly!" And the election has led to several to retire completely out of politics, including Alberta's Premier Jim Prentice, a former member of Tory Prime Minister Stephen Harper's cabinet. Rachel Notley, candidate for New Democratic Party (NDP), will be the new premier. I believe the policies of the NDP are pretty similar to what you find in moderately left parties.