What does PC win in Ontario mean for Alberta?

Ontario has a new premier so, what does that mean for Alberta?

University of Toronto political science professor Nelson Wiseman says very bluntly there isn’t much a relationship between Alberta and Ontario on a government level.

“There are a lot of personal connections between people in Ontario and people in Alberta, and what happens in Ontario is important to people in Alberta and vice-versa because they’re both driving forces in the Canadian economy,” he said, adding there aren’t many federal/provincial conferences.

“The provinces get together once a year in the summer generally, and that’s been going on since the 60s, but that’s been largely a photo op,” said Wiseman.

He says it doesn’t mean much for pipelines or energy policy either, except in one area.

“If for some reason the Energy East project gets resurrected, then it would raise issues in Ontario and I’m sure the Conservative government would be favourably disposed,” he explained.

But it is a big deal for the country, given 40 per cent of Canadians live in Ontario and about 40 per cent of all national activity takes place in Ontario.

As for whether or not a Progressive Conservative win in Ontario means big things for the United Conservative Party in Alberta, Wiseman says provincial politics don’t tend to signal anything outside their borders since the issues are generally more local.

He’s also skeptical there’s anything a conservative like Jason Kenney can learn from Ford’s hugely successful campaign.

“Doug Ford isn’t that sharp,” said Wiseman of the one-term Toronto city councillor. “He doesn’t have much sense of how provincial government works; it was clear he didn’t have much sense of how municipal government works.”

Wiseman says Kenney, on the other hand, is a political heavyweight, a formidable force, well steeped in policy and administration.

He says if a Conservative government is elected in Alberta, then things get interesting as there’s a potential to team up and oppose the Trudeau Liberals and their policies.

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