The year ahead in Alberta politics appears to be setting up a scenario that could see the upstart Wildrose Alliance Party challenge the long-reigning Conservatives.
In Alberta politics, ruling parties and premiers enjoy extraordinarily long tenures.
Danielle Smith hopes that history will repeat itself and put her next in line to serve a long term at the top.
After a little more than a year as leader of the Wildrose Alliance Party, Smith, a 39-year-old Calgarian, has set her sights on the top job in the province.
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If the polls are right that place the fledgling party neck and neck with the Ed Stelmach-led Conservatives at 32 and 34 percent respectively, she may be closer than anyone expected when the party formed in 2009.
It was a melding of two populist groups, the Alberta Alliance and the Wildrose Party.
Smith is known in southern Alberta for her work as a journalist and in public policy with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. She joined the Reform Party of Canada in 1994 and learned from founder Preston Manning that no community is too small.
She has spoken to groups of six in near empty community halls and hosted sold out leader’s dinners in recent months.
When she took over last year, the opposition leader’s job looked possible.
“When we started out, I thought we would be happy to do it in two cycles like (Peter) Lougheed did, where he had his first election breakthrough in 1967 with six MLAs and then he formed the government in 1971. But we are seeing we are already able to put forward an effective opposition with our four MLAs.”
Smith does not have a legislature seat and plans to run in the Highwood riding held by former agriculture minister George Groeneveld. Of the four MLAs, only Paul Hinman was elected. The other three members crossed the floor from the Conservative side.
With limited government experience, she and her supporters are challenging the 40-year-old Tory regime.
“Our goal is to absolutely form the government.
“When you look through our history, we have had no problems in the past making these sweeping historic changes and switching overnight from one party to another.”
Each new party that came to power started with small discussion groups comprising people who were disenchanted with the current regime.
Smith has bachelors’ degrees in English and economics from the University of Calgary.
Her party has set up an agriculture policy task force headed by farmers and ranchers including Danny Hozack of Lloydminster for livestock and former United Grain Growers president Ted Allen for grain. Norm Ward, Gordon Butler, Chris Mills and Stuart Thiessen are among the other advisers.
“They are trying to find areas where we can find common agreement across agriculture,” she said.
The party advocates an open marketing system and the need to open more international markets. It also wants to reduce red tape and streamline regulations.
While there is support from old guard conservatives such as former agriculture minister Ernie Isley and health minister Marv Moore, a strong youth component is also volunteering and seeking nomination papers.
If an election comes in 2012, Wildrose plans to have candidates in all 87 ridings. So far 26 people have been selected.
The party is also raising money, and funds will be disclosed in February when all parties must provide financial statements.
Alberta governments: a short list
•A Liberal government ruled Alberta for 17 years and lost in 1921 to the United Farmers of Alberta.
•The UFA had no experience governing but held onto power until 1935, when the newly formed Social Credit party took over.
•The Socreds ruled until 1971 when Peter Lougheed’s Conservatives took over.
•The Conservatives have remained in power since 1971.
