In Canada, the left-leaning New Democratic Party has won a historic victory in the traditionally conservative province of Alberta. Voters elected the NDP to a majority government of 53 seats, up from just four seats. The win ousts the Progressive Conservative party after more than four decades in power. Alberta has long been known as Canada’s most right-wing province. The incoming premier, Rachel Notley, celebrated her victory.
Rachel Notley: “I think we might have made a little bit of history tonight. Friends, I believe that change has finally come to Alberta.”
Notley has promised to review oversight of Alberta’s energy sector and the royalty payments of its corporations, which extract oil from the carbon-intensive tar sands. The NDP has also vowed to increase corporate tax rates, raise the minimum wage, and work cooperatively with the province’s indigenous communities. On a national level, the Alberta NDP is also expected to pressure the Canadian government to change its environmental policy, and will drop the province’s lobbying effort for the Keystone XL pipeline.