Sherman and Mason vow to fight on
Expert touts alliance of smaller parties
The leaders of the Alberta Liberals and NDP are vowing to stay on to fight in the next provincial election, despite each party receiving 10 per cent of the ballots cast in Monday’s vote.
Liberal Leader Raj Sherman and NDP Leader Brian Mason say although they’re disappointed progressive voters flocked to the governing Progressive Conservatives — they say out of fear of a Wildrose victory — Monday’s results show Albertans are actually a centrist lot and could eventually support their parties.
“It’s clear that the Conservatives were successful in scaring people back into their fold,” said Mason, who has led the party since 2004.
“But I also think that in doing so, they demonstrated that Albertans are predominantly open-minded and tolerant folks,” said Mason, whose party doubled its caucus by electing four MLAS — all in
(Tories) have to remember a lot of people didn’t vote for the PCS, they voted against the Wildrose
RAJ SHERMAN
Edmonton — on Monday.
Mason said he feels reinvigorated by these election results, which saw voters reject some of the socially conservative and “anti-scientific” aspects of the Wildrose party.
“The old-fashioned fire and brimstone conservatism just doesn’t wash anymore in this province.”
Sherman, who narrowly won his seat in Edmonton-meadowlark, said he’s committed to staying on as party leader for at least one more election. This is despite the fact his party received support from just one in 10 Alberta voters, compared to 26 per cent of the popular vote in the 2008 election.
But Sherman said his party managed to defy predictions they would be wiped out, possibly winning no seats. His party elected one more MLA in Calgary than the Wildrose party — which won 34 per cent of the popular provincial vote. In total, the party elected five MLAS, all incumbents who decided to run again.
Sherman argues that his party managed to exceed expectations despite traditional Liberal voters strategically rallying to the PCS.
Tories “have to remember a lot of people didn’t vote for the PCS, they voted against the Wildrose,” Sherman said.
But the election result shows Albertans are “in the centre” politically and are “not social conservatives.”
Next time, Sherman said, the now-debt free Liberals won’t be encumbered by two leadership contests in less than four years, and will get their nomination contests done early.
“We’re going to continue building our membership and we need to build a war chest,” he said. “We’re the true centrist party.”
Liberal campaign chair Corey Hogan said Sherman will face an automatic leadership review at a AGM to be held this spring. He expects it will be a “slam dunk” for Sherman, given the relatively solid footing of the party.
Alberta party Leader Glenn Taylor said not electing a candidate is disappointing, but his party — which got about 1.4 per cent of the popular vote — did establish itself as a credible political force in Alberta politics.
“There is some interest in what we’re doing.”
Taylor also hopes to stay on as leader. But unlike the other parties, he doesn’t blame the party’s poor showing on progressive voters going to the Redford PCS.
Voters “made a very pragmatic choice, a very practical choice, in their minds about who will best serve them for the next four years,” Taylor said.
“But I also think they put Ms. Redford and the PCS on notice,” he said. “For the first time in my memory, Alberta became re-engaged in the political process.”
Taylor said through social media, he heard from voters who believe the province’s smaller parties should join forces. He said his party wants to build its base first and “it’s too soon for that.”
Even though Sherman and Mason shoot down the idea, Macewan University political scientist Chaldeans Mensah also said an alliance between the left-of-centre parties is the only way they’ll truly gain traction. Otherwise, they’ll just continue to divide the opposition vote.
“It’s clear that these parties are repeating the same mistakes,” Mensah said.
“With the Wildrose becoming the official Opposition, it’s imperative for these smaller parties to re-examine their whole strategy,” he added.
“Things are in flux politically, and they could benefit.”