In 2015, the New Democratic Party won an unprecedented victory in Alberta. Unseating the Progressive Conservatives—who had won every provincial election since 1971 they formed an NDP government for the first time in the history of the province.

Orange Chinook is the first scholarly analysis of this election. It examines the legacy of the Progressive Conservative dynasty, the PC and NDP campaigns, polling, and online politics, providing context and setting the stage for the unprecedented NDP victory. It highlights the importance of Alberta’s energy sector and how it relates to provincial politics with focus on the oil sands, the carbon tax, and pipelines.

Examining the NDP in power, Orange Chinook draws on Indigenous, urban, and rural perspectives to explore the transition process and government finances and politics. It explores the governing style of NDP premier Rachel Notley, paying special attention to her response to the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire and to the role of women in politics. Orange Chinook brings together Alberta’s top political watchers in this fascinating, multifaceted analysis.
With Contributions By: Duane Bratt, Janet Brown, Keith Brownsey, Brad Clark, Roger Epp, Ron Kneebone, Sheridan McVean, Chaseten Remillard, Peter Ryan, John Santos, Anthony Sayers, Gillian Steward, David Stuart, Richard Sutherland, Kevin Taft, David Taras, Melanee Thomas, Graham White, Lori Williams, Jame Wilt, Deborah Yedlin, and Jennifer Zwicker

Duane Bratt is professor and chair in the Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University.

Duane Bratt's profile page

Keith Brownsey teaches political science at Mount Royal College in Calgary. He has published extensively in the area of Canadian politics, specializing in provincial politics.

Keith Brownsey's profile page

Richard Sutherland is an assistant professor in the Department of Economics, Justice, and Policy Studies at Mount Royal University.

Richard Sutherland's profile page

David Taras holds the Ralph Klein Chair in Media Studies at Mount Royal University. He is the author of several books, including The Newsmakers: The Media's Influence on Canadian Politics (1990) and Power and Betrayal in the Canadian Media (2001), and co-author of Last Word: Media Coverage of the Supreme Court of Canada (2005).

David Taras' profile page

A useful baseline for considering the future of Alberta politics.

<p>Trevor Harrison, <i>AlbertaViews</i></p>