Share this Story : National Post Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

FIRST READING: Stunning byelection upset may portend Alberta conservative fracture

Both pro and anti-independence conservatives were upset with the UCP ... causing the NDP to win

First Reading is a Canadian politics newsletter curated by the National Post’s own Tristin Hopper. To get an early version sent directly to your inbox, sign up here.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.

Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.

Unlimited online access to National Post.

National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

FIRST READING: Stunning byelection upset may portend Alberta conservative fracture Back to video

Ever since its creation in 1986, the suburban riding of Calgary-Shaw has voted for conservatives. In the year of the provincial riding’s creation, the conservative candidate won by 61.5 per cent. Nearly 40 years later, in the last general election, the conservative candidate won by a comparable 56.3 per cent.

Even the teenagers in Calgary-Shaw vote conservative. On occasions when the riding’s two high schools have participated in straw polls during provincial elections, the results have always been blowout Progressive Conservative victories.

Columnist Jesse Kline keeps you up to date with what’s happening in Israel and the effects of antisemitism on life here in Canada. Friday mornings.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Channel Israel will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

Until this week, the only time Calgary-Shaw hasn’t gone for a conservative was due to a wild anomaly in 2015. That election, 30.7 per cent of the riding voted for the Progressive Conservatives and 30.4 per cent voted for the Wildrose Party, thus allowing NDP candidate Graham Sucha to slip into power with a vote share of just 31.27 per cent (he’d lose the riding by 40 points after just one term).

But with the Alberta NDP on Monday clinching a decisive byelection victory that nobody saw coming, it may represent the first material sign of a conservative bloc that is........

© National Post