And the pollsters are kicking themselves. All of the polls published in the last week of the campaign showed the Wildrose party in the lead, ranging from 6-17 points. but the PCs have scored their 12th consecutive majority government, and will reach the unparalleled target of having been in power for at least 45 years by the time the next provincial election is called.
I was a supporter of the Wildrose, as were many true blue Conservatives and libertarians. I had no illusions that the vast majority of Albertan’s shared all of those views, but I had hoped that more would care more about fiscal sanity and resist the fear mongering that came in the last week of the campaign. I agree that perhaps the focus on a few errant social comments, and perhaps more the anti-climate change consensus environmental views espoused by Ms. Smith scared some voters back to the PCs. There is also evidence that the PCs gained significant support from Liberal and NDP voters (as these parties share of the popular vote is down).
I however, pledge to be more active here, particularly in assisting the new Opposition in holding the government of Alberta to account on issues like property rights, fiscal rectitude, individual rights.
I still fear the comments made by PC politicians prior to the election campaign about having to have a “serious conversation about taxation” after the next election. I also hope that my new MLA, Rick McIver, who is a blue Tory, will bring some fiscal sanity to the cabinet table and resist the push for increasing income taxes, the reintroduction of progressive taxation and the possibility of sales taxes. I also fear the introduction of further “green initiatives” and great infringements on individual freedom.