In the 2015 provincial election, the New Democratic Party, led by Rachel Notley, won an unprecedented victory in Alberta. Unseating the Progressive Conservatives – who had won every provincial election since 1971 – they formed an NDP government for the first time in the history of the province.

Unfortunately for Premier Rachel Notley and her NDP government, revenues from Alberta’s energy sector tanked in 2015 and still hasn’t fully recovered. Nevertheless, the NDP government pressed on with their plans to rectify Alberta’s massive infrastructure deficit in support of public institutions, but in the process, they’ve amassed hefty budgetary deficits, despite implementing progressive tax changes and a carbon levy

In July 2017 the Progressive Conservative and Wildrose Party merged to become the United Conservative Party (UCP) and the official opposition party in Alberta. Later that year, Jason Kenney became the leader of UCP and since then, has laid out a very different way forward for Alberta with more emphasis on a balanced budget by cuts to spending, scrapping the carbon levy and giving business incentives through taxation relief.

The speaker will analyse the April 16 Alberta election results and speculate on the consequences of such.

Speaker: Dr. Duane Bratt

Duane Bratt is a political science Professor and Chair in the Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University (Calgary, Alberta). He was educated at the Universities of Windsor (BA 1991, MA 1992) and Alberta (Ph.D. 1996). He teaches in the area of international relations and Canadian public policy.

Duane’s primary research interest is in the area of Canadian nuclear policy. Recent publications include: co-editor, Readings in Canadian Foreign Policy: Classic Debates and New Ideas 3rd edition (Oxford University Press: Toronto, 2015) and author of Canada, the Provinces, and the Global Nuclear Revival (McGill-Queen’s University Press: Montreal and Kingston, 2012) Duane is also a regular commentator on political events. Copies of Duane’s most recent book Orange Chinook: Politics in the New Alberta will be available for sale

Moderator: Dylan Purcell

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2019 Time: Doors open 11:30 am, Presentation 12 noon, buffet lunch 12:30 pm, Q&A 1 – 1:30 pm Location: Royal Canadian Legion (north door) 324 Mayor Magrath Dr. S. Lethbridge Cost: $14 buffet lunch with dessert/coffee/tea/juice or $2 coffee/tea/juice. RSVP not required

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