| Alberta General Election, 1971 |
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The Progressive Conservative Party , led by Peter Lougheed , broke the 36-year hegemony on Alberta politics of the Social Credit Party . Harry E. Strom , who followed Ernest C. Manning as Social Credit leader and premier, had been unable to revive what was seen as a tired regime. Peter Lougheed had significant momentum going into the 1971 election, benefiting from two floor crossings, and winning two by-elections he had ten seats at dissolution, four more then when he started in 1967. Although Social Credit lost only a small share of the popular vote, the collapse of the other opposition parties allowed the PC Party to present a credible challenge. Lougheed, with 46% of the popular vote, won 49 of the 75 seats in the legislature, and made the PC Party the new party of the right-wing majority in the province. Social Credit continued to decline after this election, sinking into near-paralysis in opposition. Its grassroots organization had atrophied over the years, and the party was ill-prepared for a role outside government after being the governing party for virtually all of its history prior to 1971. Despite periodic attempts at reviving the party, was never again a significant force in Alberta politics. The Liberal Party was shut out of the legislature, and had no momentum going into the election with one member crossing the floor and the rest resigning long before the 1971 vote, while Alberta New Democratic Party leader Grant Notley was the only NDPer to win election. He sat as the only New Democrat in the legislature until 1982. RESULTS Note:
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME PLEBISCITE The province of Alberta voted on its fourth provincial plebiscite. Voters were again asked to endorse a proposal to adopt Daylight Savings Time (summer time). The proposal was rejected by a very slim margin in 1967. This time however it passed with a wide margin of 61.37% of the vote. For break down of results see individual districts MEMBERS ELECTED For complete electoral history, see individual districts SEE ALSO
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