Medicine Hat political observer watching possible introduction of party politics at the civic level
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Alberta municipalities and political observers will be watching the spring sitting of the legislature, for possible legislation opening the door to establishing political parties for civic elections.
B.C. and Quebec already have candidates who run for local councils under a party banner.
So far, the idea has met with lukewarm response in Alberta, even among the government’s own polling.
Medicine Hat political scientist Jim Groom notes Premier Danielle Smith is a supporter of the idea, and he thinks she may view it as a way to counter opposition to her government in Alberta’s two largest cities.
“They’ve picked a fight with the feds, they’ve picked a fight with other provinces, they’ve picked fights with both Edmonton and Calgary and they’re blaming the somewhat left of centre positions of the two mayors in Calgary and Edmonton as their opposition and they’re trying to diffuse that as best they can,” says Groom.
