Jason Markusoff's Alberta insider for March 27: Uniting Albertans against a Torontonian, Kenney vs. the 'modern world' on LGBTQ rights, and more
Every day during Alberta’s election campaign, Maclean’s correspondent Jason Markusoff will analyze trends, promises, bozo eruptions and any other notable news from the hustings. Sign up for the Maclean’s politics insider to get Markusoff’s inside track in your inbox every morning.
Rather than launching in the provincial capital , Notley announced the April 16 election in Calgary. The NDP won 15 of the city’s 25 seats last time. The party can afford to lose only eight in the province to retain a majority in the 87 seat legislature. Keep that number eight in mind: she has nine seats to defend in the bedroom communities and “rurban” areas that circle Edmonton, including mid-sized cities Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove and St. Albert.
Polls show the UCP close or tied to the NDP in the capital region, which means Notley has work to do the surrounding smaller towns that often crave visits from party leaders, and can reward them with big front-page photos in the local newspapers. Notley made several spending announcements for road expansions and industrial projects before the campaign, but didn’t venture outside Edmonton in Week 1. She’s scheduled to give the donut some attention next week. Her candidates will be grateful.
LGBTQ rights advocates, other party leaders and the Alberta Teachers Association denounced the UCP’s plan as dangerous and retrograde. A normally pro-Kenney voice may have been heard loudest, though. National talk-radio host Charles Adler, a conservative who considers Kenney a friend and often lionizes him, spent much of Tuesday night’s show with guests who warned about grave harms to at-risk youth if Kenney enacts this reform. Adler seemed to fight back tears throughout his program.
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