(Montreal) The United Conservative Party (UCP) led the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the provincial elections in Alberta, but the results were slow to arrive Monday evening.
Only a small percentage of votes were counted in the first hour after the polls closed.
Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley won re-election in the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona.
It was also announced that Danielle Smith, leader of the PCU, has been re-elected MP for the Brooks-Medicine Hat constituency. She had won the seat in a by-election in November, more than seven years after leaving the Alberta legislature.
Mme Smith called the by-election shortly after winning the leadership race to replace Jason Kenney as leader of the United Conservative Party and as premier in October.
Danielle Smith’s PCU held firm in its traditional rural base while Rachel Notley’s NDP dominated early in Edmonton, where it won all but one seat in 2019.
Early results were still mixed in the battleground of Calgary, seen as key to the NDP’s goal of winning back at least 20 seats since the last election.
Danielle Smith’s PCU was battling to win a second consecutive majority government, while Rachel Notley’s NDP was trying to win back the government it lost to the PCU in 2019.
Both leaders have served as Prime Ministers and Leaders of the Official Opposition.
Voter turnout is expected to be strong, as advance polls set a record 758,540 votes cast, eclipsing the previous record of more than 700,000 in 2019.
PHOTO JASON FRANSON, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Rachel Notley, leader of the NDP
Elections Alberta has set up alternate voting locations for those displaced by the wildfires. Evacuation was added as a valid reason for voting by special ballot, and mobile polling stations were placed at evacuation centers.
Polls suggested that the PCU would continue its near-total dominance in rural areas and smaller centers, giving it a cushion of up to around 40 seats to reach the 44 threshold needed to form a majority government.
The month-long election campaign was dominated by the economy and health care.
Albertans are grappling with high costs for consumer goods, a shortage of family doctors and long waits in emergency rooms.
During the election campaign, Danielle Smith promised to keep Alberta the lowest tax system in Canada. Her government, she said, would introduce legislation to mandate a binding referendum before any personal or corporate income tax hikes. There would also be tax changes to benefit those earning more than $60,000 a year, at a cost to the Treasury of $1 billion a year.
The NDP also has to maintain Alberta’s status as the lowest tax system in Canada. He pledged to end the small business tax and raise corporate income tax from 8% to 11%, which he said would help pay for investments while maintaining the lowest corporate tax rate in Canada.
The NDP is also promising legislation this summer to counter CERB policies that have raised the cost of utilities, auto insurance, a range of fees and tuition.
The two leaders vowed to preserve the publicly funded health care system while creating more primary care teams — doctors along with related specialists such as nurses and therapists — so more Albertans can access health care. a family physician and not obstruct emergency services for care.
Polls also show that trust is a key issue, Mme Notley being viewed more favorably than his party and vice versa for Mme Smith.
During the campaign, Danielle Smith was haunted by earlier comments she made comparing those who took the COVID-19 vaccine to gullible supporters of Adolf Hitler. A report also came out mid-campaign from the province’s ethics commissioner who concluded she had undermined the rule of law by pressuring her justice minister to end the case. criminal charge of a protester.