Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
After years of voting in opposition to the governing party, Edmonton has chosen to back Conservative candidates in a big way.
Edmontonians elected 13 Conservative candidates, crushing the 11-seat Edmonton Liberal caucus, and leaving only three seats for the party. The NDP suffered a similar fate, losing half of the four seats it held after the 2004 election.
Liberal Leader Kevin Taft blamed the loss on the Tory party's considerable financial resources, which he says meant the Tories outspent the Liberals "five to one."
He also pointed to the low voter turnout—41 per cent—the lowest in history.
"It's a worry for democracy," Taft said, "when we have less than half the people coming out"
But he admitted that clearly the voters liked what the Conservatives were offering them.
The change in political direction is major one for voters in the city.
In fact, Edmonton has often been called "Redmonton" because of its propensity to vote against the government in power.
Taft did manage to hang on to his own seat in Edmonton-Riverview by a safe margin of more than 2,200 votes.
NDP Leader Brian Mason was also re-elected easily, in Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood.
Related
Internal Links
Alberta Votes 2008 »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
Riding Profiles
More Alberta Votes Headlines »
- It's 'Ed's Empire' after Alberta election sweep
- Political observers in Alberta are calling it remarkable and opposition politicians are wondering what hit them after Ed Stelmach guided his Conservative party Monday to one of its biggest majorities ever.
- Low voter turnout in Alberta election being questioned
- As Premier Ed Stelmach and Alberta Conservatives savour their sweeping election victory, some people are raising a nagging concern: why so few people bothered to vote.
- Albertans elect historic 11th straight Tory government
- Voters in Alberta stuck with tried-and-true blue, giving the Progressive Conservative party an unprecedented 11th consecutive majority government in Monday's provincial election.
- Political tide turns in Edmonton
- Alberta Progressive Conservative Leader Ed Stelmach has proven true to his word, putting the "Ed" back in Edmonton.
- Conservatives' Calgary fortress resists change
- The Progressive Conservatives' fortress in Calgary stood strong as the party took 18 of the city's 23 ridings Monday night.
