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Hitler, hockey, slavery and a street preacher: Here’s what heated up Alberta’s election


EDMONTON—The two parties vying to form the next Alberta government are offering voters a stark choice, but it’s as much a battle of personas as it is politics.

As former Progressive Conservative premier Alison Redford said this month, “It’s not as easy to distinguish what is an NDP idea from a conservative idea anymore.”

This election, which concludes as voters head to the polls Monday, has seen the United Conservative Party appealing to nurses, child-care workers and skilled tradespeople, while the NDP has offered tax incentives to certain businesses for low-emissions projects. Both parties sell themselves as strong supporters of education, health care, and the oil and gas sector, and both fiscal plans are heavily dependent on oil royalties to balance the budget.

Instead of focusing on policy, the UCP has concentrated more on its right-wing brand, labelling the NDP as a left-wing party that will tax and spend on the backs of Albertans. The NDP, in contrast, has sought to distinguish the personalities of Danielle Smith and Rachel Notley, with their ultimate message being that Notley is more trustworthy.

One area the two parties do significantly differ is in their approach to dealing with the federal government. Smith has opposed a federal gun-buyback program and has been critical of Canada’s equalization system. She introduced the Sovereignty Act, which would let the legislature disobey federal laws it deems unconstitutional, but then walked back a provision that would allow her cabinet to bypass the legislature. Notley has explicitly opposed the act, as well as the federal government’s emissions targets, but has also said threatening to separate from the rest of Canada is not a productive approach.

Here are some of the moments and issues that have defined the past month’s election campaign.

A pastor looms large

One of the most headline-grabbing aspects of this election has been the relationship between Calgary street pastor Artur Pawlowski and Smith. Pawlowski was charged with mischief due to a speech which Crown prosecutors said incited protesters to continue disrupting the border during the illegal Coutts, Alta. blockade last year.

Prior to the campaign, the Alberta NDP publicized an 11-minute phone call between Pawlowski and Smith, during which she said she would inquire about his case; that prompted Alberta’s ethics commissioner to investigate whether Smith interfered with the administration of justice. On the second day of the election campaign, a judge found Pawlowski guilty of mischief.

The finding gave the NDP ammunition to question Smith’s integrity due to her support of Pawlowski. She was later found to have violated the Conflicts of Interest Act and breached a “fundamental pillar” of democracy.

Calgary emerges as the key battleground

Alberta’s largest city has always been an important factor in determining who forms government, but the role Calgary is playing as kingmaker (or, in this case, queenmaker) has been even greater than in recent years, most notably in terms of how much time and resources the NDP is dedicating to picking up seats there.

Both parties are also making big promises to Calgarians, with new hospitals, schools and a hockey arena among the carrots being dangled.

Hitler, slavery and feces

Incendiary remarks and the ensuing outrage have been a recurring theme in this election, although it’s unclear at this point how much the controversies will sway voters. Earlier this month, Smith apologized for comparing Albertans who received the COVID-19 vaccine to supporters of Nazi Germany, while the UCP demanded the NDP apologize for a candidate who compared the non-renewable energy sector to slavery (the party ultimately did not apologize).

Meanwhile, Smith said a candidate who compared transgender children in schools to feces in cookies would not sit in her caucus if elected, then said she could have a second chance. Five days later she clarified that the candidate was not welcome in her caucus if the UCP forms government.

Alberta is burning

As the race heated up, so did the province, and Alberta found itself in the midst of raging wildfires right in the middle of election season. The fires raised questions of whether election day should be delayed due to voters being unable to reach the polls on election day due to evacuations.

While the election was not postponed, the wildfires served as the first real crisis during Smith’s time in office and provided an opportunity for her to demonstrate how she would respond in emergency situations and work with other levels of government. She got both praise and criticism for her response to the wildfires, with some saying the province acted swiftly, while others have said Alberta waited too long before accepting federal help.

Leaders’ debate

The central themes of the leaders’ debate were a reflection of the times: Affordability, at a time of global inflation; health care, following the pandemic; and trust, in a world where faith in politicians and institutions is dwindling.

Smith directed most of her remarks at Notley’s previous record in government, especially the introduction of a carbon levy, while Notley attacked Smith’s history of making controversial comments and then having to backtrack, apologize or clarify them. While there were zingers aplenty, both leaders seemed to emerge from the debate relatively unscathed.

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