Analysis & Commentary

Count down to election day - numbers that put Alberta politics in perspective Political junkies have something in common with people who love baseball. Sure, there are those who just tune in election night, just like those who make the World Series the only ball they watch all year. But for true watchers of both pastimes, it's all about the numbers. In Alberta, where the outcome of an election is rarely in doubt, the numbers and historical trivia are part of the lore that make Wild Rose Country politics truly unique. So here are some Alberta political numbers you can toss around as you take in the election results Monday night: Number of Alberta MLAs in 1905: 25 Year legislature increased to 83 members: 1986 Change in number of Edmonton seats this election, due to redistribution: -1 Change in number of Calgary seats this election, due to redistribution: +2 Riding with the highest population: Wood Buffalo (42,971) Riding with the lowest population: Dunvegan (24,202) Percentage of current opposition MLAs from Edmonton: 100% Last time a non-PC/Liberal/NDP MLA was elected: 1986 (Representative Party of Alberta) Lowest turnout (in a byelection): 20.8% (Red Deer North, 2000) Turnout in Red Deer North in 2001 general election: 40.7% Deposit for candidates in 2001 election: $200 Number of Liberals who forfeited deposit, failing to get at least half the votes of the winning candidate: 55 of 83 Number of NDP who lost deposit: 80 of 83 Number of PCs who lost their deposit: 0 of 83 Amount the government's general revenues fund made from forfeited deposits in 2001: $40,800 Number of special ballots cast in 2001: 11,100 Riding with the least accurate voters' list (compiled in November 2000): Calgary Buffalo, 88.2% accurate Most accurate voters list (November 2000): Calgary Fish Creek, 98.6% Maximum contribution to a political party allowed in a calendar year: $15,000 Maximum contribution to a political party allowed in a year with an election: $30,000 Minimum age for a senator in Canada: 30 Number of Alberta's six senate seats which are vacant: 3 Date next Alberta senator is due to retire: Dec.17, 2011 (Tommy Banks) Current longest-serving Alberta senator: Joyce Fairbairn and Dan Hays (appointed by Pierre Trudeau, June 29th 1984) When they have to retire: 2014 Number of years since the NDP has held a seat in Calgary: 11 Number the NDP had in the city going into the 1993 election: 2 Number of female MLAs south of Calgary: 0 First election more than 1 million Albertans could vote: 1979 First election more than 1 million Albertans actually voted: 2001 Consecutive election victories, by party: 9. Social Credit (1935-67), PC (1971-2001) Shortest-lived dynasty: 14 years, United Farmers of Alberta (1921-35) Longest term as premier: Ernest Manning (1943-1968) Shortest term as premier: Richard Reid (1934-35 - 389 days) Date Ralph Klein could tie Peter Lougheed for time as premier: Feb. 5, 2007 (5166 days) Number of opposition leaders Premier Klein has faced: 6 Number of years Ralph Klein has been on the public payroll, municipal and provincial: 24 (and counting) The CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites. External links will open in a new window.