There were strong echoes from B.C.’s past in Alberta’s election. A televised debate that changed everything. A stunning victory that no one saw coming early on. And an assortment of rookies who are likely a little bewildered to find themselves elected this morning.
Premier-elect Rachel Notley’s caucus gives new meaning to the term “dream team,” since many of them never dreamed up until a few weeks ago they might win.
Former B.C. finance minister Gary Collins is familiar with the position they’re in. In 1991, he was an active volunteer with the B.C. Liberal Party, then barely more than a little social club.
He said he became a force in his local association because he was the only person in the group under 65 years of age.
The party cobbled together almost a full slate of candidates, catch as catch can. Most of them were loyal soldiers who signed up knowing the run would be futile. To the astonishment of all, 17 of them won, including Collins. The legend of one of them (Doug Symons) endured. He spent election night watching a hockey game, since his thankless job was done. It was only when he woke up the next morning that he learned he was a new MLA.
“In retrospect, we did not have a clue,” said Collins.
B.C. Liberals went from zero to 17, and official Opposition status.
But Notley’s NDP team went from four to about 53 seats, good enough to give them their first crack at government ever.
And just like in B.C., they did it on the strength of a TV debate. The NDP’s Mike Harcourt and Social Credit’s Rita Johnston were bickering when then Liberal leader Gordon Wilson interjected: “Here’s a classic example of why nothing ever gets done in the province of British Columbia.”
It was the sound bite that rejuvenated a party that has lasted 14 years and counting in power.
Notley had a similar breakout move in the April 22 debate, with a sustained performance that was marked unanimously as a win and started a major surge.
(Premier Jim Prentice’s “math is hard” gaffe during that debate also recalled a B.C. moment, when then-premier Gordon Campbell told the NDP’s Carole James in the 2009 debate: “This is a big job and it’s hard to get a handle on it.” He managed to escape major damage, unlike Prentice.)
Tuesday night’s NDP win was what was supposed to happen to the NDP here two years ago.
But it was incredulous Liberals doing the cheering. The difficulty in predicting makes Premier Christy Clark’s views on Alberta that much stranger.
For some incomprehensible reason, she went all in endorsing and supporting Prentice in the middle of the campaign.
She praised him to the skies at the Manning Networking conference in March as the most B.C.-friendly Alberta leader ever. Then she repeated the endorsement in the middle of the campaign.
“I have two predictions for May — one is that Premier Prentice is going to sit down back at the premier’s desk for another four years and when he does he’ll turn on the TV and see the Canucks in about the third round of the playoffs.”
The Canucks are playing golf and Prentice just became the Kim Campbell of the 21st century. He dodged further misery by resigning as leader and quitting the seat that he had just won.
Clark went on at length before the election, saying there hasn’t been an Alberta premier in her lifetime who understands B.C. like Prentice.
“I think he would be great for Alberta. I think he’d be great for B.C. I think that’s great for the country.”
Job One in B.C.’s intergovernmental relations department today will be explaining that quote to Notley. Clark began making amends late Tuesday by congratulating Notley and promising to work together.
They’ll probably move past the awkwardness, since they have a strong bond now — they both pulled off huge upset wins, which are the best kind.
