Alberta Election

[maplesyrup]

Let's see what the changes are, at this point, compared to last election in 2001:

Popular vote (%):

Party/2001/2004*/Change

PC/62/46/down 16

Lib/27/29/up 2

NDP/8/12/up 4

All/0/9/----

Grn/?/3/?

So far the big winner in terms of increase of popular vote is the NDP.

Seats

Party/2001/2004*/Change

PC/ 74/61/down 7

Lib/7/16/ up 9

NDP/2/4/up 2

All/0/1/----

So far the big winner in terms of increase in seats are the Liberals.

*Elected or leading

[Hawk]

So far the big winner in terms of increase of popular vote is the NDP.

The NDP is the most laughable party in existance, look at Sask. =p

So far the big winner in terms of increase in seats are the Liberals.

You have got to be kidding, the PCs basically have won all the seats they can win. Lets compare total seats, 61 compared to 16... wow, the Libs sure are 'winning' =p

I completely agree with you. Ralph Klein is a "common man." Hardly an endorsement for a Premier.

I believe, obviously unlike you, that a politician is still a man... and that belief in 'elites' for political rule is not acceptable... in fact that is delving into dictatorship.

[maplesyrup]

NDP leader Brian Mason has been be re-elected in his riding of Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood.

Mason has received 55 per cent of the popular vote. PC candidate Jason Manzevich and Liberal Terry Martiniuk were a distant second and third.

For the election's final weekend, Mason focused the NDP campaign on its traditional base in the city of Edmonton.

Some of the city's ridings, such as Mason's home district of Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood, were changed in the 2004 redistribution. Others, such as Edmonton-Decore, are new ridings with a full slate of new candidates. Only three of the city's 18 ridings were not altered in 2004.

Mason was first elected in 2000. He has been an Edmonton city councillor and city bus driver. In 2000 he won his riding with 46.2 per cent of the popular vote.

Looking good - maybe NDP will double their number of seats in just three years, since 2001.

[maplesyrup]

Overall Election Results

Party Elected Leading Total  Vote Share

PC 39 23 62 45.02% 

LIB 6 9 15 29.99% 

NDP 4 1 5 11.90% 

AAP 0 1 1 8.58% 

GRN 0 0 0 2.67% 

SC 0 0 0 1.11% 

OTH 0 0 0 .72% 

Last Update:  November 22, 9:47:22 PM MST  83 seats

Wow!

[kimmy]

Looking good - maybe NDP will double their number of seats in just three years, since 2001.

"They doubled their seats" sounds a lot better than "they went from 2 to 4." As Brian Mason himself said, "Looks like we'll need a bigger phone-booth."

Overally, a pretty good result, I think. The Liberals gain some seats and the NDP will have official party status, so the opposition should be a little more effective.

-kimmy

[August1991]

"They doubled their seats" sounds a lot better than "they went from 2 to 4." As Brian Mason himself said, "Looks like we'll need a bigger phone-booth."

Can someone interpret this for me? 'Sounds good'. What?

[maplesyrup]

The last I saw the Liberals had 18 seats, while the NDP had 4.

[August1991]

Overally, a pretty good result, I think. The Liberals gain some seats and the NDP will have official party status, so the opposition should be a little more effective.

Overally?

Kimmy, you wanted Liberal/NDP gains?

[maplesyrup]

The cash-strapped NDP, which held only two seats in the last legislature, both in Edmonton, didn't even run TV and billboard ads of Mason in Calgary.

The NDP did quite well considering the above.

[Slavik44]

actually I think the Alberta Alliance was the big winner, they got one seat and increased their vote from 0% to 5%

[kimmy]

"They doubled their seats" sounds a lot better than "they went from 2 to 4." As Brian Mason himself said, "Looks like we'll need a bigger phone-booth."

Can someone interpret this for me? 'Sounds good'. What?

If you're spin-doctoring for a political party or trying to hype some product (or, in Syrup's case, both ) then trying to make them "sound good" is your goal, right?

If you talk in relative terms (as Syrup did earlier) you can make it seem as though even the most unpopular product-- (dealcoholized beer? Ashlee Simpson records? Alberta NDP?) is exploding in popularity.

The Alberta NDP doubled their number of MLAs? Wow! It's a revolution taking the whole province by storm!

Overally?

You're not seriously going to start pointing out typos, are you?

Kimmy, you wanted Liberal/NDP gains?

I mentioned my voting plans earlier in this thread. With a Klein majority a foregone conclusion, my hope for this election was to get a more effective opposition into the Legislature. I think tonight's results were about as good as we could have hoped for on that front.

The cash-strapped NDP, which held only two seats in the last legislature, both in Edmonton, didn't even run TV and billboard ads of Mason in Calgary.

The NDP did quite well considering the above.

They had zero chance in Calgary; spending money on advertising there would have been a waste of resources that could be more help elsewhere.

-kimmy

[Knave]

actually I think the Alberta Alliance was the big winner, they got one seat and increased their vote from 0% to 5%

I agree. Actually, for the Alliance it was closer to 10% - about 77,000 ballots overall.... a decent result for their first election. They finished not too terribly far behind the NDP, who received about 90,000 votes across the Province.

Hopefully next election the Alliance can put someone on for the televised debates, since they were barred from the Global TV debate this year - for not having a sitting MLA last election.... which was before they were even founded.

Alas, someone probably forgot to point out that the NDP was allowed in the 1997 televised debate even though they didn't have any MLAs at the time, either.

[Black Dog]

Yawn. While the NDP gains are surely a good thing. this election again emphasizes the need for electoral reform.

Consider this: the Tories' shar eof the popular vote plummeted to 47 per cent, yet they have 73 per cent of the seats. Gotta love FPTP. Not.

[The Terrible Sweal]

PC 60 47.07%

LIB 18 29.05%

NDP 4 9.79%

AAP 1 9.10%

So they won 73% of the seats with only 47% of the vote.

Let the populist lamentations begin.

[August1991]

If you're spin-doctoring for a political party or trying to hype some product (or, in Syrup's case, both  ) then trying to make them "sound good" is your goal, right?

No, it's not my goal. (*Looks aside and scrinches eyes*)

If you talk in relative terms (as Syrup did earlier) you can make it seem as though even the most unpopular product-- (dealcoholized beer? Ashlee Simpson records? Alberta NDP?) is exploding in popularity.

Ashlee Simpson? Alberta NDP? No-beer Beer?

----

In 1964, the Republicans lost. In 1972, the Democrats lost. Both parties now know how not to commit suicide.

In Quebec, political parties have known this since Duplessis.

My question was naively simple. I still don't understand why no Albertan political party has created an alternative.

[kimmy]

They did. For those hoping for a right-wing alternative to the Klein Club, there's the brand new Alberta Alliance, who got nearly 10% of the popular vote. And of course we've got the NDP, the Liberals, the Greens.

The question isn't why nobody has created an alternative, it's why so many Albertans are unwilling to support the altermatives that are there.

-kimmy

[Knave]

They did. For those hoping for a right-wing alternative to the Klein Club, there's the brand new Alberta Alliance, who got nearly 10% of the popular vote. And of course we've got the NDP, the Liberals, the Greens.

The Alliance looks to be a rising star - as you said, they received nearly 10% of the popular vote and won one seat, which isn't a bad start for their first election.

In the days of Social Credit, the PCs started out much the same way.

The question isn't why nobody has created an alternative, it's why so many Albertans are unwilling to support the altermatives that are there.

Well, the NDP is popular among more left-leaning folks in Edmonton, who (traditionally) vote either NDP or Liberal provincially and Federally. Outside Edmonton, the NDP shows only moderate support (at best) in other urban centres in the province - but is completely unable to garner much support in the rural areas and usually comes up third in Calgary, the largest city. Many Albertans I know say that they need only go to Saskatchewan or B.C. to see the "benefits" of NDP government - heck, there's a lot of Albertans who are from those two provinces and came to Alberta as fallout from the NDP running the governments there. So an NDP majority doesn't seem to be in the cards.

The Liberals are about the same - besides the fact that "Liberal" is a dirty word in many rural areas, moreso than the NDP. Many folks simply can't seperate the Provincial from the Federal Liberals, which doesn't entirely work to their favour.

Alberta has elected conservative parties to the majority in the Legislature continuously for about 80 years; the UFA, Social Credit, Progressive Conservative. I don't think the "next" party to take up the lead in the Legislature will be a Liberal or NDP one - it's likely to be another conservative party. The Alliance may be it.

As my dad said to me once; Albertans don't elect governments - We confirm dynasties.

[Black Dog]

The question isn't why nobody has created an alternative, it's why so many Albertans are unwilling to support the altermatives that are there.

Simple: prosperity breeds complacency. As long as the economy is doing well and Albertans precieve themselves as prsperous, there's little desire to change what is seen as a system (or in this case, a political party) that works.

[Cartman]

believe, obviously unlike you, that a politician is still a man... and that belief in 'elites' for political rule is not acceptable... in fact that is delving into dictatorship.

I think that if you believe that a politician is a MAN, then you are confirming a different form of dictatorship.

Alliance leader lost...boo hoo.

[Black Dog]

The NDP is the most laughable party in existance, look at Sask. =p

Where they've helped turn Saskatchewan into a economic success. Your point is...?

You have got to be kidding, the PCs basically have won all the seats they can win. Lets compare total seats, 61 compared to 16... wow, the Libs sure are 'winning' =p

Well, considering the PC's lost 10 seats, that's a step in the right direction.

I believe, obviously unlike you, that a politician is still a man... and that belief in 'elites' for political rule is not acceptable... in fact that is delving into dictatorship.

Yet you seem to endorse the Topries, a party rife with cronyism, notorious for handouts to big business with a leaderwhose policies overwhelmingly favour the privileged "elites" over the common man.

It's amazing how strong the hold of propaganda is.

[Cartman]

Alas, someone probably forgot to point out that the NDP was allowed in the 1997 televised debate even though they didn't have any MLAs at the time, either.

Ah yes, and just like the Alliance, they never ever had any MLA's elected or formed the Official Opposition just like the Alliance? The NDP must have some corporate muscle or political insiders forcing their agenda on Albertans.

[Big Blue Machine]

After Klien leaves, this could be the end for the PCs. I think it could be like the end of the Davis Era, then when Miller came into power he got trashed. Since the Alberta PCs lost some support, it might happen.

[Hawk]

Where they've helped turn Saskatchewan into a economic success. Your point is...?

Ummm have you ever BEEN to Sask? It is far from an economic success =p I have relatives that live there and have visited it a few times myself, NDP rule has not helped them.

Well, considering the PC's lost 10 seats, that's a step in the right direction.

Meh, you try winning as many elections as the PCs and never take any losses. The point is they still hold an overwhelming majority which means Alberta is still supporting them =p You know, democracy?

Yet you seem to endorse the Topries, a party rife with cronyism, notorious for handouts to big business with a leaderwhose policies overwhelmingly favour the privileged "elites" over the common man.

It's amazing how strong the hold of propaganda is.

You make so many accusations yet I see no proof, all I hear is ranting... Do you support the Fiberals Black Dog? Because you are preaching to me about handouts to businesses and policies favoring elites so you damn well had better not support them.

Simple: prosperity breeds complacency. As long as the economy is doing well and Albertans precieve themselves as prsperous, there's little desire to change what is seen as a system (or in this case, a political party) that works.

Percieve? Oh my... you seriously dont know anything do you? It is a well-known fact Albertans dont just 'percieve' that our economy is doing well, we ARE doing well =p Our debt is gone, we are one of the richest provinces in Canada, how the heck is that just a 'perception'? Also WHY would we want to change our government when it has proven itself to work and do what we want it to do? You seem to think that unless the government is socialist it needs to be changed, grow up dude.

[Cartman]

Percieve? Oh my... you seriously dont know anything do you?

Another eloquent post by Hawk. Next time you try to insult someone, try spelling "perceive" and don't" correctly. Otherwize, u just luk lak u downt no wat ur talkin bout.

[MASTERBUILDERS]

He has certainly assisted with the housing surge.

MASTERBUILDERS CANADA