The morning after the NDP ‘orange crush’ swept Alberta, Alberta’s new premier-designate said she had already started working to reassure nervous investors.
On Wednesday morning, oil and gas stocks had plunged to a one-month low on the TSX.
Meanwhile, NDP Leader and premier-designate Rachel Notley held her first news conference at the legislature Wednesday morning, and called for calm in the industry.
“I’m hopeful over the course of the next two weeks they will come to realize that things are going to be a-ok in Alberta,” Notley said.
“I’m going to be reaching out to industry and they can count on us to work collaboratively with them.”
It’s the first challenge faced by Notley. Political expert Bob Murray told CTV News the newly-minted premier-elect has a lot of work to do.
“[She will have to] ease fears that people are going to have about the first transition in government in 44 years, and try to make sure that people aren’t afraid of the NDP government to come,” Murray said.
After Tuesday’s vote, her New Democratic Party secured a victory with at least 53 seats in the legislature – devastating a nearly 44 year PC dynasty down to at least 10 seats.
The Wildrose Party made up the opposition, with 21 seats – while Liberal Party interim leader David Swann secured his party’s only seat, and Alberta Party leader Greg Clark was also elected.
Only one seat had not been decided Wednesday, in Calgary-Glenmore where PC incumbent Linda Johnson and NDP candidate Anam Kazim each secured 7,015 votes.
In all, the results decimated the PC Party – in his concession speech in Calgary Tuesday night, leader Jim Prentice said he took responsibility for the results, before announcing his resignation as party leader and MLA.
Later Tuesday night at the NDP Party HQ in Edmonton, Notley spoke to a crowd of about 1,500 supporters – and said voters had told her they wanted a new direction, one she said would be built on collaboration between business and government.
“To Alberta’s job creators, great and small, in the energy sector and every other sector, our government will be a good partner,” Notley said Tuesday.
Murray said Notley struck a chord with Albertans, which helped secure the win.
“Rachel Notley and her people ran by far the best campaign of any party,” Murray said.
The win even had a former Conservative premier giving her props.
“She is displaying talent and strength and a grasp of what it takes,” Former Premier Don Getty told CTV News in a phone interview.
The NDP victory not only made history, but was also an emotional one for Notley – she also took a moment to reflect on what the results might have meant for her father, former NDP Leader Grant Notley, who was killed in a plane crash in 1984, while he was in office.
“I know my mother would be completely over the moon about this, I think my dad would be too,” Notley said. “I’m sorry he couldn’t see this.
“This really was his life’s work but I will say this, I know how proud he would be of the province we all love.”
Notley said she’s received advice from a few sources – including former Saskatchewan NDP Premier Roy Romanow – and other individuals across Canada.
As for the provincial budget handed down by Prentice – which the NDP was critical of – Notley said she’s seeking advice on the legalities of making changes to the budget, and how to go about that.
With files from Laura Tupper and Veronica Jubinville
