According to Wikipedia, the Social Credit Party led by WAC Bennett, won seven consecutive elections. They were 1952, 1953 1956, 1960, 1963, 1966, and 1969. Wally and Auntie Kay would have voted in all those elections. I don’t remember any of those elections. Wally and Auntie Kay seldom discussed politics in my presence.

I moved to Alberta in 1974 and in 1975 voted for the first time in my life and I have voted ever since.

I don’t know if you are aware, but we in Alberta are in the midst of an election. Our esteemed Premier called it several weeks ago after the the budget was brought down. We get the drift that he wants a vote of confidence so he can bring in the austerity measures to deal with the low price of oil.

The Progressive Conservatives started their run with power in 1971 and they have been running the province ever since.

Alberta has had many boom and bust cycles in the oil patch. The first bust I remember is 1982 when the National Energy Program hit the fan. That down turn lasted a few years. The next bust was during the early 1990’s. The next one was 2007/08 and now 2015.

I remember reading about a quote by a local Oliver grower who once said that all one can expect from tree fruit growing is an abundant crop once every five years. That sounds similar to the oil patch in its’ cycles.

Now all the politicians here are promising to diversify to get us out of boom and bust. Just how is that going to happen no one knows, but it sure sounds promising.

In the early years ( 1952 ) of WAC Bennett’s political career, he power shared with an Independent MLA who helped the Social Credit form a minority government. In 1953 Mr Bennett and his party won a clear majority.

It is hoped in Alberta that the voters will be able to do the same as Mr Bennett did in BC, and unseat the ruling party to give someone else a taste of power. After all, 44 years with one party governing is enough.

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