”Same Old Story?” - Unpacking the 2012 Alberta Provincial Election (Part 1)

The front page headline in the Lethbridge Herald April 24 read, "Same Old Story". Was it really? Was this another automatic victory for the PCs? How did the Conservatives manage to win this one? How did the Wildrose manage to lose it? Did the pundits and pollsters miss something? What do the various parties have to learn – as they look back on this election? How has the Alberta electorate changed in the past few years – and what did the outcome say about Alberta in 2012? Our speaker will explore the layers and issues that affected the Provincial election outcome, and what we need to understand about it all. He will argue that underneath the surface there has been a major realignment in the party system. What does the party realignment say about Albertans and our politics? What will the next four years bring in terms of federal-provincial relationships and what must each of the parties do to attract more voters in 2016? Speaker: Harold Jansen Harold Jansen is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Lethbridge. His teaching and research focus on Canadian politics, Alberta politics, and political parties and elections with a particular emphasis on political party finance and the use of social media for political communication Moderator: Dianne King Date: Thursday, May 10, 2012 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $10.00 (includes lunch) Visit the SACPA website: http://www.sacpa.ca