Jason Kenney elected Alberta's new premier

Jason Kenney will be Alberta’s next premier with a majority victory for the United Conservative Party (UCP) over the existing NDP government. Rachel Notley’s party will transition into the the role of official opposition in the province.

“What a great day for the province of Alberta. Today our great province has sent a message to Canada and the world, Alberta is open for business,” Kenney said in his victory speech, using a slogan familiar to Ontario premier Doug Ford.

“Albertans have elected a government that will be obsessed with getting this province back to work,” Kenney added. “Tonight we send a message to our fellow Canadians from coast to coast…we Albertans are proud Canadians and tonight we elected a government that will stand up and secure a fair deal for Alberta in this great country.”

The UCP was created in 2017 as a joining of the Wildrose and Progressive Conservative parties.

In her concession speech, Notley expressed pride in her party’s leadership to date, including climate change actions and poverty rate in the province.

“I am enormously proud of our record,” Notley said. “To every girl and every young woman watching tonight, I believe in you and never stop believing in yourself. I hope that we have shown you that in your life, anything is possible.”

“As leader of the opposition I will do the job to the best of my ability and with the utmost integrity,” Notley stated as she formally accepted the role as the official opposition. “I will make sure that our vision of Alberta endures…holding government to account and making sure the voices of all Albertans are heard.”

The province of Alberta has seen an election full of personal attacks. Incumbent Notley ran on a platform focused on highlighting her successes as the province’s leader, most notably her track record on economic issues. Kenney has sent a message that he is “fighting back” against those opposing Alberta, such as the federal government and environmentalists.

After Kenny appeared to the public in a blue Dodge Ram pickup truck following his victory, the UCP leader stressed the importance of the energy sector and pipeline efforts.

“The world needs more Canada, the world needs more Canadian energy,” Kenney said. “There is a deep frustration in this province…that everywhere we turn we have been blocked in and pinned down.”

But both parties have also done a fair share of name calling: Kenney has been accusing Notley of being too cozy with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, while Kenney’s anti-abortion stance and track record with LGBT issues has been used to try and turn Albertans away from him.

“To every Albertan out there who identifies as LGBTQ2SA+, know you will always have a champion in me and in the Alberta NDP,” Notley said in her concession speech.

“We have fundamentally changed the politics in this province forever.”