Anger and a lack of details define Calgary election campaign

The campaigning is over all that’s left now is the vote.

It’s Municipal Election Day in Alberta and everyone is anxious to see how things will shake out, especially after such a contentious and sometimes nasty mayoral race in Calgary.

For various reasons, Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams believes there will be high voter turnout.

“Some are passionate supporters of a particular candidate or set of policies, some are passionately angry, and that will probably drive and motivate some of them to come out and vote,” she said.

University of Calgary economics professor Ron Kneebone said the biggest problem with the campaign was that candidates were short on details, especially when it came to tax rates and spending policies.

“A total lack of discussion about fiscal issues, where the level of taxation should be,” he said. “It’s easy to say, ‘I don’t like it, I wish it was lower’ but it’s another thing to say what you would do about the problem.”

He said it’s odd voters didn’t demand more specifics, since decisions at the municipal level have such an impact on day to day quality of life.

“They provide you with clean water, they provide you with sewers, they provide you with the roads and transit system you use every single day,” said Kneebone.