Whisper
March 5th, 2008, 03:54 AM
EDMONTON, CALGARY — Nearly 60 per cent of eligible voters in Alberta stayed away from the polls on Monday, and the energy-rich province's red-hot economy may be partly to blame, Premier Ed Stelmach said yesterday.
Mr. Stelmach led the Progressive Conservatives to a landslide victory, capturing 72 of 83 seats and their 11th consecutive majority since 1971.
An unofficial estimate put voter turnout at an all-time Alberta low of 41.3 per cent. No federal election has ever dropped that low.
“They are just happy with the way life is, most of them,†the Premier said, about the large group that didn't cast ballots in the election, which saw the opposition parties either reduced by half or wiped out.
Still, the 56-year-old farmer turned politician said he's disappointed with the turnout, especially in light of news an Edmonton-based soldier died in Afghanistan a day before the vote fighting for democratic freedoms.
“It's absolutely a cause for concern for the state of democracy in Alberta,†said Chaldeans Mensah, a political scientist at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, who called the election's showing “abysmal.â€
Turnout has been sliding in Alberta since 1993, and this time the number came in below the previous worst – 44.7 per cent in 2004.
Observers attributed the decline to the large number of new people who have moved to the province, most of them young and transient and less inclined to vote. Another factor was the lack of competitive races in rural areas where the Tories have long had a stranglehold.
“It really expresses a sense of apathy and almost a resignation by the opposition and their supporters,†Prof. Mensah said. “This was really an opportunity for opposition parties to make gains and they've just frittered it away.â€
The decisive victory should unify the once-fragmenting Tories and give Mr. Stelmach the support he needs to move forward with his agenda – which could be at odds with the rest of the country.
“He's unlikely to give in to any attempts to limit the development of the oil sands,†Prof. Mensah said. “I think Canadians need to be watchful as we move toward an environmentally driven political agenda. Alberta will potentially be an obstacle in this effort.â€
Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper called Mr. Stelmach yesterday to congratulate him, and also released a statement: “I look forward to continuing to work with Premier Stelmach and the other first ministers to build a stronger and better Canada.â€
Mr. Stelmach, who intends to name his new cabinet next week, told reporters yesterday he's not planning any radical changes for the province, which has only seen government change hands three times in its history.
Besides continuing to manage its massive growth and prosperity, the Premier said he also plans to invest more heavily in Alberta's growing “knowledge-based economy†by giving more money to researchers and scientists.
His resounding victory extends the Tory dynasty beyond 37 years, but a poll conducted days before the election by the Strategic Counsel found the party will have to address serious concerns about how the province is governed. Many told the polling firm major changes were necessary to restore their confidence in government.
While the Tories were celebrating, the two remaining opposition parties were busy regrouping and their leaders considering their futures. The Alberta Liberal caucus was reduced from 16 to nine. The NDP went from four members to two. The Wildrose Alliance was not able to retain its single seat.
Liberal Leader Kevin Taft surprised many observers by not immediately stepping down in light of his party's disastrous showing. Numerous polls had suggested a large chunk of voters wanted a change in government, but the Liberals failed to exploit that widespread sentiment.
Mr. Taft is expected to face an automatic leadership review later this year. Finding a new leader for the debt-ridden party, which hasn't governed Alberta since 1921, is expected to be a major challenge. One name constantly brought up is Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, a well-known Liberal who has been courted to run federally in the city for years.
“He has no interest in provincial politics,†his spokesman, Marc Henry, said yesterday.
Mr. Stelmach led the Progressive Conservatives to a landslide victory, capturing 72 of 83 seats and their 11th consecutive majority since 1971.
An unofficial estimate put voter turnout at an all-time Alberta low of 41.3 per cent. No federal election has ever dropped that low.
“They are just happy with the way life is, most of them,†the Premier said, about the large group that didn't cast ballots in the election, which saw the opposition parties either reduced by half or wiped out.
Still, the 56-year-old farmer turned politician said he's disappointed with the turnout, especially in light of news an Edmonton-based soldier died in Afghanistan a day before the vote fighting for democratic freedoms.
“It's absolutely a cause for concern for the state of democracy in Alberta,†said Chaldeans Mensah, a political scientist at Grant MacEwan College in Edmonton, who called the election's showing “abysmal.â€
Turnout has been sliding in Alberta since 1993, and this time the number came in below the previous worst – 44.7 per cent in 2004.
Observers attributed the decline to the large number of new people who have moved to the province, most of them young and transient and less inclined to vote. Another factor was the lack of competitive races in rural areas where the Tories have long had a stranglehold.
“It really expresses a sense of apathy and almost a resignation by the opposition and their supporters,†Prof. Mensah said. “This was really an opportunity for opposition parties to make gains and they've just frittered it away.â€
The decisive victory should unify the once-fragmenting Tories and give Mr. Stelmach the support he needs to move forward with his agenda – which could be at odds with the rest of the country.
“He's unlikely to give in to any attempts to limit the development of the oil sands,†Prof. Mensah said. “I think Canadians need to be watchful as we move toward an environmentally driven political agenda. Alberta will potentially be an obstacle in this effort.â€
Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper called Mr. Stelmach yesterday to congratulate him, and also released a statement: “I look forward to continuing to work with Premier Stelmach and the other first ministers to build a stronger and better Canada.â€
Mr. Stelmach, who intends to name his new cabinet next week, told reporters yesterday he's not planning any radical changes for the province, which has only seen government change hands three times in its history.
Besides continuing to manage its massive growth and prosperity, the Premier said he also plans to invest more heavily in Alberta's growing “knowledge-based economy†by giving more money to researchers and scientists.
His resounding victory extends the Tory dynasty beyond 37 years, but a poll conducted days before the election by the Strategic Counsel found the party will have to address serious concerns about how the province is governed. Many told the polling firm major changes were necessary to restore their confidence in government.
While the Tories were celebrating, the two remaining opposition parties were busy regrouping and their leaders considering their futures. The Alberta Liberal caucus was reduced from 16 to nine. The NDP went from four members to two. The Wildrose Alliance was not able to retain its single seat.
Liberal Leader Kevin Taft surprised many observers by not immediately stepping down in light of his party's disastrous showing. Numerous polls had suggested a large chunk of voters wanted a change in government, but the Liberals failed to exploit that widespread sentiment.
Mr. Taft is expected to face an automatic leadership review later this year. Finding a new leader for the debt-ridden party, which hasn't governed Alberta since 1921, is expected to be a major challenge. One name constantly brought up is Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, a well-known Liberal who has been courted to run federally in the city for years.
“He has no interest in provincial politics,†his spokesman, Marc Henry, said yesterday.