It’s a staple of punditry to take events in one region and try to connect them to another. And far be it from me to break with tradition. I think the parallels between Alberta and British Columbia are interesting, and I think there are definitely lessons that Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals could take from Alison Redford’s surprise PC majority in Alberta – if they choose to.
They do have a lot in common: fresh female faces who won their party’s leadership against expectations and with minimal caucus support. Both took over long-ruling governments (crazy-long in Alberta’s case) facing a public appetite for change. Both are seen as too moderate and small-l Liberal. And both faced significant threats on their right flank, from the Wildrose Party in Alberta and the B.C. Conservative Party in B.C. Both opponents have drawn lots of attention, and both have weak benches beyond the leader.
Now, the parallels aren’t perfect, of course. B.C. Conservative leader John Cummins is most definitely no Danielle Smith. And Redford had no real threat on her left from the Alberta Liberals or NDP, while Clark has to contend with an NDP leading the polls and the reality of vote-splitting moving ridings to the NDP. But I do think it’s telling how both Redford and Clark have dealt with their very similar situations.
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B.C.'s Christy Clark can learn an important lesson from Alison Redford | Full Comment | National Post
They do have a lot in common: fresh female faces who won their party’s leadership against expectations and with minimal caucus support. Both took over long-ruling governments (crazy-long in Alberta’s case) facing a public appetite for change. Both are seen as too moderate and small-l Liberal. And both faced significant threats on their right flank, from the Wildrose Party in Alberta and the B.C. Conservative Party in B.C. Both opponents have drawn lots of attention, and both have weak benches beyond the leader.
Now, the parallels aren’t perfect, of course. B.C. Conservative leader John Cummins is most definitely no Danielle Smith. And Redford had no real threat on her left from the Alberta Liberals or NDP, while Clark has to contend with an NDP leading the polls and the reality of vote-splitting moving ridings to the NDP. But I do think it’s telling how both Redford and Clark have dealt with their very similar situations.
more
B.C.'s Christy Clark can learn an important lesson from Alison Redford | Full Comment | National Post
