Edmonton—Alberta’s election officially began on Monday as the United Conservatives and New Democrats traded barbs in battleground Calgary to launch their respective campaigns.— who became premier through a party leadership vote in October — challenge former premier and NDP Leader Rachel Notley.
Polls have pegged the election as a very close race, and Calgary will likely be where things are decided, observers say. Candidates in all 87 Alberta ridings are expected to hit the streets to door-knock for the next four weeks until election day on May 29. During her speech Monday, Notley said it’s time for “trusted leadership.” She said Smith will tell people what they want to hear and then go “do whatever she wants.”Notley referred to Smith’s public stances, where she has mused about privatizing health care. Just before the election began, Smith pledged a “public health guarantee” and said Albertans would not pay out of pocket for essential medical services.
Meanwhile, Smith said the NDP under Notley hiked taxes and fees when the party was in government from 2015 to 2019.