The election of an NDP government will bring much-needed change after years of deteriorating public services and a weak economy under Alberta’s Conservatives.

“Tonight, hope has triumphed over fear,” said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. “Albertans have demonstrated their confidence that there are viable alternatives to Jim Prentice and the Conservatives and voted for a government that will put their needs first.”

The Alberta NDP platform made commitments to protect public services, including health care and education, by reversing cuts introduced by Jim Prentice in March 2015. NDP leader Rachel Notley also vowed to take a more balanced approach to corporate taxes and resource royalties.

“No one can solve Alberta’s woes overnight, but today’s historic election is a confident step in the right direction,” said Joie Warnock, Unifor Western Director. “A generation after Peter Lougheed, it is the NDP who took up the cause of ‘thinking like owners’ and putting resources to work for Alberta’s families.”