Elections Alberta unofficial poll results for Lac La Biche – St. Paul – Two Hills show most polls and voters preferred Wildrose candidate and new MLA Shayne Saskiw.
Saskiw won with 47 per cent of the vote, 5,950 votes, taking 34 of 63 polls. Incumbet Ray Danyluk took second with 42 per cent and 29 polls. NDP Phil Johnson came in third with 5.5 per cent and Liberal John Nowak two votes less with 704.
Provincially, the electorate returned a Progressive Conservative majority and Wildrose official opposition. Saskiw won the sole Wildrose seat in northern Alberta, but has the company of 16 Wildrose MLAs in the south of the province, which is blanketed by Wildrose green, except in Calgary, where the party won only one seat.
“There were many, many constituencies that previously didn't have a Wildrose candidate that came within striking. There was a huge surge of growth for our party across northern Alberta and I look forward to continuing to build that," said Saskiw last week. He pointed to results in several constituencies where only a few points separated Wildrose and PC candidates.
“In the legislature, I think that I will be able to advocate freely for the interests of this constituency as well as for northern Alberta."
Danyluk's support dropped from 71 per cent in 2008 to 42 per cent. NDP and Liberal votes collapsed from 11 per cent and 18 per cent respectively, to less than six per cent on April 23.
While NDP votes dropped, voter turnout increased, noted Johnson. “That's actually a big win for our constituency. I'm very proud that we went from one of the lowest to one of the highest turnouts. That was an amazing feat and I think it speaks to the fact that people want change in this province."
He said some NDP supporters “wanted change bad enough" that they voted Wildrose, while others supported PCs “because they were afraid of what a Wildrose government would look like."
NDP doubled its presence in the legislature to four seats. Johnson said the election shows Albertans don't want the “fire and brimstone" brand of conservatism anymore. Johnson sees possibilities for the NDP improving its electoral results in the coming years.
“(Albertans) are more progressive than other people generally give them credit for," he said. “I really enjoyed debating the other candidates and being able to connect with people that were across the constituency."
Reflecting on fewer voters for the Liberals than in 2008, Nowak said the local Liberal vote split between Wildrose and PC due to strategic voting. Instead of voting on values, “through fear, they decided to use strategic voting, placing one party against the other because they believe that was the true opposition," he said.
“Another four years of a PC government with a Wildrose opposition and I think people might be looking for a change four years from now."
“If I was to say one thing, it's a sad day for rural Alberta," Danyluk told the Lac La Biche Post, last week. “I'm not going to run again. Not a chance. I've been at this for 20 something years. I think it's enough. But I feel very sorry for rural Alberta at this time."
“This is an opportunity for someone else to show what they're made of. I think I showed what I'm made of," he added.
Even with only four MLAs before the election, Saskiw said the Wildrose opposition “lead the agenda" and government had to respond. With 17 Wildrose MLAs after the election, “I think we're going to be an even stronger force in the legislature and hold them to account each and every day."
Wildrose leader Danielle Smith has said the party would review some of its policies at its AGM this year.
“There's going to be a review of some of the policies that may not have been as popular in this election. It's up to our membership to give us the guidance of where they want to go," confirmed Saskiw. Saskiw said the party should be constantly reviewing policy and be self-critical, “so next time around, we do even better."
Saskiw is the executive director of the Wildrose Party and will step down before the swearing in of MLAs this month.
Results
In the Town of St. Paul, Danyluk won five and Saskiw three polls. In rural St. Paul polls, Saskiw and Danyluk won two apiece.
Danyluk and Saskiw split Elk Point, with each winning one town and one rural poll. Saskiw won polls in Heinsburg/Lindbergh, Lac Bellevue, Lafond, Willingdon, Vilna, Bellis, Ashmont, Mallaig, St. Lina (68 per cent). He had strong support in Myrnam's town poll and Derwent (65 per cent). Saskiw won the Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, Hylo and Rich Lake. Saskiw took a commanding lead in Plamondon town and rural polls, with 65 per cent total from both polls.
Saskiw swept the Saddle Lake poll with 59 per cent of 289 voters, followed by Johnson with 19 per cent, Nowak with 14 per cent and Danyluk with eight per cent. Danyluk won Goodfish Lake First Nation with 45 per cent of 158 voters, followed by Johnson with 28 per cent and Saskiw with 23 per cent.
Danyluk's support registered most strongly in Lac La Biche, where he won four town polls and two of three rural polls. Danyluk won Two Hills town polls handily, as well as the Two Hills rural area and Hairy Hill, Spedden, Craigend, and the Kikino Métis Settlement.
In advance polls, 1982 people voted. Saskiw won advanced polls for St. Paul, Two Hills and Lac La Biche. Danyluk won the Elk Point advanced poll with a margin of five votes. Saskiw won the special poll with 72 per cent of 158 votes cast before advance polls opened.
With files from Alina Smirnova/Lac La Biche Post
