NDP leader Rachel Notley hits two last campaign stops on the way home for election day
After spending some time in Calgary over the weekend, NDP leader Rachel Notley wrapped up her campaign today with two rallies on the way home to Edmonton ahead of election day.
Notley focused on pushing home some of her key campaign promises for health care and education, while calling out UCP leader Danielle Smith for being "unreliable."
The first stop was Red Deer.
“This is a historic election in Alberta and the decisions that Albertans make tomorrow are going to have huge, huge implications for our province's future and I am confident!” Notely told the crowd.
Despite the latest polling data showing a slight edge to the UCP, Notley and her supporters were optimistic.
“I’m feeling more confident than I ever have," said Red Deer resident Grace Page. "I’ve talked to lots of people that have said they’ve never voted NDP before, but this election it just seems like such an obvious choice to them as well.”
Another NDP supporter, Kayley Holmes, said she's feeling nervous about Monday's results.
“I have incredible anxiety about it just because I feel like so much is hanging in the balance in regards to what the outcome is going to be. I have never hoped for anything so hard in life,” Holmes said.
Being a teacher in Red Deer, Holmes said Notley has been her only choice from day one.
“Obviously I’m worried about things like class size, school funding, EA’s and the curriculum, certainly in terms of social studies," she added. "We need a modernized progressive curriculum.”
Further up the QEII for her last campaign stop, Notley spoke to a packed room at the Polish Hall Banquet and Conference Centre near Kingsway Garden Mall.
“You’re concerned about the cost of living and the state of public health care, well me too. You want more jobs and a more resilient economy with no income tax increases and no sales tax, well me too,” she told the crowd.
Turning up the heat, the NDP leader also took the opportunity to call out Premier Danielle Smith several times.
“She’s all over the map," Notley said. "You never know what she’s going to say next.
"Her staff have had to reign her in so much they may as well have stuck her inside the Talus balls.”
UCP leader Danielle Smith ended her campaign with a rally in Calgary on Thursday. She did not make herself available to reporters on Sunday.
Polls open on election day at 9 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
More information on voting in Alberta can be found on the Elections Alberta website.
With files from the Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories

PM Trudeau apologizes for Parliament's recognition of Nazi veteran during Zelenskyy visit
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered 'unreserved apologies' Wednesday for Parliament's recognition of a man who fought for a Nazi unit during the Second World War and said the Canadian government has reached out to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the wake of the incident.
Feds, Quebec set to make major EV battery production announcement Thursday
The governments of Quebec and Canada are set to make a major announcement about the electric vehicle manufacturing supply chain, and rumours have been swirling for weeks a Swedish battery developer and manufacturer could be setting up shop in McMasterville, which is about 30km from Montreal.
IED believed to be on vehicle in Barrie, Ont. parking lot explodes, sparking evacuations and road closures
Police have locked down and evacuated a section of Barrie, Ont., Wednesday morning in the city's west end amid unconfirmed reports of an explosion.
Judge Chutkan denies Trump's request to recuse herself in federal election subversion case
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan said Wednesday she won't recuse herself from Donald Trump's 2020 election interference case in Washington, rejecting the former president's claims that her past comments raise doubts about whether she can be fair.
Researchers say action could have prevented thousands of premature cancer deaths in women in 2020
Prevention could have prevented nearly seven in 10 premature cancer deaths among women worldwide in 2020, new research has found.
These magnetic building blocks are being recalled due to an ingestion hazard: Health Canada
Some magnetic building blocks are being recalled by Health Canada as they do not meet the magnetic force requirements and pose ingestion hazards for children.
Hyundai, Kia recall over 600,000 cars in Canada, drivers told to park away from buildings due to fire risk
Hyundai and Kia have issued a recall for several vehicle models and are urging drivers to park away from buildings due to the risk that the issue could start a fire.
Over 50 arrested after mobs ransacked Philadelphia stores. Dozens of liquor outlets are shut down
Dozens of people faced criminal charges Wednesday after a night of social media-fueled mayhem in which groups of thieves, apparently working together, smashed their way into stores in several areas of Philadelphia, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing, authorities said.
'ET Canada' cancelled by Corus Entertainment, blames 'challenging' advertising market
The studio lights are going dark at 'ET Canada.' Corus Entertainment says it has decided to cease production on the long-running Canadian arts and entertainment news magazine after 18 seasons.