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Don Getty, at right, won his first election as leader of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party in 1986, becoming premier. Source: https://calgaryherald.com/ (May be subject to copyright) |
It was the first time I had ever seen it happen. I was working at Gergeley’s Greenhouse just south and west of Coaldale when a man in a suit jacket, and dress pants came by, looking very official.
He was campaigning for the 1986 provincial election, and that was the very first time I met a candidate running for any office.
As the parties campaign in the current provincial election, I have been reminded of that experience.
Since 1982
The 1982 Alberta provincial election had painted the province blue. The Progressive Conservatives, led by the iconic and legendary Peter Lougheed, had won all but four seats in the 1982 election, taking 75 of 79 seats. The NDP had won two, being Ray Martin and Grant Notley, and Ray Speaker and Walter Buck, two former Social Credit MLAs, running as independents, won the other two seats.
The 1982 Alberta provincial election had painted the province blue. The Progressive Conservatives, led by the iconic and legendary Peter Lougheed, had won all but four seats in the 1982 election, taking 75 of 79 seats. The NDP had won two, being Ray Martin and Grant Notley, and Ray Speaker and Walter Buck, two former Social Credit MLAs, running as independents, won the other two seats.
Speaker and Buck, would go on to form a new party, the Representative Party of Alberta, that ran candidates in several ridings, including Taber-Warner, the one I lived in.
Tragically, Notley was killed in a plane crash on Oct. 19, 1984. Martin would then assume the leadership of the NDP.
On June 26, 1985, Lougheed announced he was retiring from politics. The Progressive Conservatives would have a leadership convention in which Don Getty was selected the new leader, beating out Julian Koziak and Ron Ghitter.
After Lougheed had retired and the PCs were looking for a new leader, I had my first connection to party politics. Tony Perlich, my good friend Dave’s dad, was a diehard Conservative. My friend Mat and I dropped in one Saturday afternoon to see Dave, and no one seemed home. Then Tony Perlich opened the door, saying no one was home, and he just popped home for a minute because he was at the leadership convention.
Getty was sworn in as premier of Alberta on Nov. 1, 1985. After a few months in office, he called an election for May 8, 1986.
The election
It would be Getty’s first election as leader of the Progressive Conservatives, Martin’s first election as leader of the NDP, and obviously Speaker’s first election as leader of the Representative Party.
It would be Getty’s first election as leader of the Progressive Conservatives, Martin’s first election as leader of the NDP, and obviously Speaker’s first election as leader of the Representative Party.
However, Nick Taylor would again be leading the Alberta Liberal Party into a provincial election, something he had done three times – 1975, 1979, and 1982. Not only did they never former government or opposition, they never won a seat. Taylor was perpetually the leader without a seat in the legislature, watching the proceedings from the gallery.
I recall how sorry my mom felt for Nick Taylor, although despising the Liberals, she took some satisfaction from his futility as well.
Brush with fame
Coaldale was in the riding of Taber-Warner at that time, and our MLA was Bob Bogle who was a Progressive Conservative from Milk River – nowhere near Coaldale. However, he did appear at our school periodically so I had seen him before.
Coaldale was in the riding of Taber-Warner at that time, and our MLA was Bob Bogle who was a Progressive Conservative from Milk River – nowhere near Coaldale. However, he did appear at our school periodically so I had seen him before.
Through the news, I learned the candidates running against him were Jim Renfrow of the NDP, and John Voorhorst of the Representative Party.
This is where it gets interesting – for me at least.
It was a week night, a Thursday I think, of 1986. I had been working at the greenhouse since late February so I was still new. I was in the main greenhouse, where the public came.
This guy came in and I recognized him immediately. He said hello, wandered around a bit. Looking back, I think he was looking to shake hands and introduce himself. There was no one around though.
So, he asked to see the owners. They were both out, but one of their sons was around, so I got him.
I told him that John Voorhorst was there, then explained who that was. My boss talked to Voorhorst, and he left soon after.
My boss said, with a smile, that he told our would-be MLA if Voorhorst bought him a beer, he’d vote for him. I just laughed.
Not old enough to vote yet, I saw my boss the night of the election. He said he never did get that beer, but he voted for him anyway.
Good thing for Voorhorst, because he needed all the votes he could get that night.
The results
It was a pivotal election of the time in many ways. The Progressive Conservatives won, but had their majority severely reduced. Having 75 seats, they really could go nowhere but down.
It was a pivotal election of the time in many ways. The Progressive Conservatives won, but had their majority severely reduced. Having 75 seats, they really could go nowhere but down.
The biggest winner was the NDP who broke through with 16 seats, the most in history, and they formed their largest opposition in history to that point. We see echoes of the same thing now.
The Liberals won four seats, their first since 1969, and Nick Taylor finally won his seat in the riding of Westlock-Sturgeon. He would go on to sit in the legislature until 1996. After that he was appointed to the Senate in 1997 where he served until mandatory retirement in 2002.
Speaker and Buck won their seats for the Representative Party, but folded the party before the next election. Buck would retire, while Speaker would join the Progressive Conservatives, serving in government until 1993. He then took his talents to Ottawa, winning a seat for the Reform Party and becoming their first house leader. He retired after finishing his term in 1997.
I recall watching the results after work. It was a feed from CBC Edmonton and Joanne Stefanik, one of the anchors could not hide her glee at the NDP and Liberal success. At one point she even said she had to keep herself from jumping up and down.
Aftermath
A year later, I lived in student residence at the University of Alberta, down the hall from Scott Reeb who was from Westlock. He was a Liberal supporter and had worked on the Nick Taylor campaign, finally getting the long-time leader of the Liberals into the legislature. Scott had a “Nick Taylor” campaign poster hanging in his room, and it was signed by Taylor. Incidentally, Scott is the older brother of Troy Reeb, of Global TV fame.
Parting thoughts
I became interested in politics all the way back to 1979 and the federal election. I followed Alberta politics as closely as you can in the three-channel universe, on a farm with no access to a daily newspaper. I remember the 1982 election very well, and by 1986, when I was older, was really interested in politics.
I became interested in politics all the way back to 1979 and the federal election. I followed Alberta politics as closely as you can in the three-channel universe, on a farm with no access to a daily newspaper. I remember the 1982 election very well, and by 1986, when I was older, was really interested in politics.
Since then, I have met several premiers of this province, including the current one, dozens of MLAs and cabinet ministers, and have come to know my last five local MLAs. The number of candidates I have met is even bigger.
Yet, I still remember that very first one, in a greenhouse outside Coaldale, Alberta in 1986.
That’s where democracy became real for me.
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