Leftist party wins control of Alberta, the 'Texas of Canada'

The CBC calls Tuesday's provincial elections in Alberta a "massive shock that turns Canadian politics on its head." When the ruling Progressive Conservative government called the election, the party had 70 of the Alberta legislature's 87 seats, and in December the Progressive Conservatives celebrated 43 years in control of Alberta, a record for any party in any Canadian province.

On Tuesday, the leftist New Democratic Party crushed them, winning 53 seats and pushing the Conservatives to an embarrassing third-place finish, 11 seats, behind the further-right Wild Rose Party, with 21 seats. This is not only surprising because conservative, oil-rich Alberta "has long been cast as the Texas of Canada," as The New York Times notes, but also because it is the home and political base of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"I think we might have made a little bit of history tonight," said NDP leader Rachel Notley on Tuesday night. She will be the next premier, with the Wild Rose Party assuming the role of official opposition. Outgoing Premier Jim Prentice resigned as party leader and member of the provincial legislature, announcing that his "contribution to public life is now at an end." Political analysts attributed the Conservatives' sharp turn in fortunes to budget deficits brought on by falling oil prices, political missteps, and shifting demographics.

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