Braid: Smith safe from party upheaval despite smallest majority ever

Article content material

Premier-designate Danielle Smith gained an election Monday evening with the smallest majority in Alberta historical past.

Article content material

Does this set her up for a celebration rise up?

Article content material

By no means. Actually, Smith is safer as a result of her legislative majority is barely 5 votes.

Any concerted assault on the chief is simply too dangerous; actually silly, if the federal government is secure for 4 years.

In March, I wrote {that a} shut vote would spell bother for Smith. This one wasn’t shut sufficient. Nevertheless, this highlights one other issue.

Conservative rebellions at all times happen when the social gathering has a big majority. They’re a luxurious of success, energy and the phantasm of invulnerability.

The PCs and UCP have been rid of their very own leaders by way of background dissent or rebel for the reason that development started with Don Getty in 1992.

Subsequent got here Ralph Klein, then Ed Stelmach, Alison Redford and Jason Kenney. The one escapees have been Dave Hancock, who was appointed by caucus to exchange Redford, and Jim Prentice, who misplaced to the NDP.

Every time the events had impenetrable majorities. Conservatives believed that regardless of how a lot soiled laundry they aired, the general public would vote conservative.

However Monday evening ushered in a complete new world. The NDP got here inside attain of beating a single conservative power. Rachel Notley’s social gathering owns Edmonton and half of Calgary.

Article content material

Article content material

Conservative gamers I spoke to agree that it places much more emphasis on unity and average authorities.

Within the blizzard of congratulations and rebukes after the election, one message was significantly attention-grabbing.

“It was nearly a landslide, however the left is now consolidated. Let’s deal with good governance and put together our social gathering to win 60 plus (seats) in 4 years.”

It was from Rob Anderson, govt director of Smith’s workplace, and her chief political adviser.

The reply, Anderson says, is “good authorities”—that means smart insurance policies that rebuild relationships and efficiency in training, superior training, and particularly well being care.

Article content material

The UCP know they’ve barely escaped the fog of Smith’s previous feedback and positions. The duty now could be to point out her as a pacesetter who focuses on what Albertans want.

(Stirring up the fights with Ottawa can be on the agenda. She’s already busy.)

What all this implies for the plan for an Alberta pension is just not clear. However Smith says she will not do it in opposition to widespread opposition.

She guarantees no public cost for well being companies. She rejected candidates with excessive views and berated others. Smith has just about renounced her former self.

It was a troublesome promote, however many citizens selected to consider it. The duty now could be to show that she is honest.

One query is how a average agenda will sit with Take Again Alberta, the right-wing power that organized for the UCP.

The pinnacle of TBA, David Parker, stated social gathering unity was essential to the election. Then he added on Twitter: “any rise up will come after the election, relying on the end result.”

Many UCP candidates, employees, ministers and MLAs are sick of TBA’s declare of working the social gathering agenda. They are saying it is a minor group with no actual platform. It endorsed individuals who didn’t endorse TBA in return.

Article content material

It sounds self-serving. The social gathering didn’t complain about TBA’s organizing efforts. However after the election, the group is unlikely to be practically as influential because it want to consider.

Samantha Steinke, the UCP communications vp, has been endorsed by TBA for election to the social gathering council.

However she says: “I’m there to assist the entire social gathering and its members. I’m not affiliated with or managed by any group.”

The months forward will inform if Smith can suppress her idiosyncrasies and construct public assist. If she does, she is secure from her personal social gathering for a very long time.

Don Braid’s column seems commonly within the Herald.

Twitter: @DonBraid