What the next federal election could mean for Alberta

Tension between Alberta and Ottawa has deepened over the last few years, but the next federal election could have a major shift in Alberta’s representation at Parliament Hill.

And with no MPs from Alberta in the federal cabinet after the latest shuffle, how could the next federal election impact the province’s representation in Ottawa?

This comes after former finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned Monday, delivering parting words highlighting a difference of ideas between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Dominic LeBlanc was awarded the position late Monday amid the chaos engulfing parliament following Freeland’s resignation. The rest of Trudeau’s cabinet was reshuffled Friday.

The move prompted a new uprising against Trudeau, with more than a dozen Liberal MPs now openly calling for him to resign.

Lori Williams, an associate professor of policy studies at Mount Royal University, says if there is an early election, it can increase Alberta’s presence in parliament should the conservatives take the helm.

“There is always great hope that someone from the west, someone from Alberta will speak for Albertans and that our voice will be heard more efficiently in Ottawa,” she told CityNews.

“Certainly, there will be more people from the cabinet table from Alberta.”

Jagmeet Singh announced Friday morning the NDP plans on voting to bring the prime minister out of power if he doesn’t resign.

The House of Commons isn’t scheduled to sit until the end of January, but with the Liberal-NDP partnership ending, it could mean an early election — much sooner than fall 2025.

“It does put pressure on Trudeau, he knows he is going back in the new year facing opposition from all parties,” Williams said.

The Conservative Party have been leading in the polls for over a year, and while leader Pierre Poillieve is from Alberta, Williams says the biggest impact for the province will likely come from his stance on energy.

“We know that Pierre Poilieve would get rid of the carbon tax,” she said. “We would likely shift in the number of energy policies that are in place right with the federal liberals.”

“But again we may not see all of the things that Alberta would like to see.”

Williams says a conservative federal government would also have an impact on Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

“Without the distraction of fighting against the federal government, the focus is going to be much more on what she is doing for Albertans here, as opposed to what she is doing — positioned against the federal government.”

And while Trudeau’s popularity with the public has been on the decline, she does think some new cabinet members offer some hope for his party.

“I think Dominic Leblanc is someone who is seen as having potential there, and again one of the leaders on the economic file and trying to deal with the challenges with incoming Trump in the United States,” Williams said,

In the meantime, she says Alberta representation in Ottawa will continue to be a challenge.

“The voice for Alberta will have to come from leaders here in Alberta working with the representatives at the federal government,” she said.

With files from The Canadian Press