Alberta's changing place in Canada: Sayers and co-authors of new book examine politics in a misunderstood province

Alberta has long been an economic powerhouse but a misunderstood political force in Canada and a new book co-authored by Anthony Sayers, Director of Canadian Governance Policy at the School of Public Policy, examines the political evolution of the province in recent decades. 

Sayers co-authored The Dawn of Competitive Party Politics in Alberta: An End to Solitude with Royce Koop of the University of Manitoba and University of Calgary professor emeritus David K. Stewart. In it, they trace Alberta's political development from before provincial status through more than a century of dominant-party rule and the recent emergence of competitive party politics. 

"It's important to understand why Albertans are as they are," says Sayers. 

Their research examines Alberta’s political evolution and finds that while the province is widely recognized for its economic influence, its political significance is often viewed through a narrow lens that undersells its changing place in the federation.  

The book explores how Alberta’s relationship with the federal government has shaped its political identity and how demographic, economic, and social changes have contributed to a more competitive party system. It also examines what Alberta’s transformation means for federal-provincial relations, regional tensions and national unity.  

The authors make the case the shifting political dynamic in Alberta that’s emerged since 2006 may signal the arrival of newly competitive party politics provincially and perhaps even federally in the province. They contend this new political dynamic is reshaping Alberta’s place in Canada and with it Canada's democratic future.  

“You can only understand a province by understanding its relationship with the rest of the country,” says Sayers, who is also a professor in UCalgary’s Department of Political Science. “Conflict is a natural part of politics. The key is to figure out how to co-operate. Federalism allows people and regions who are very different to benefit from working together. 

By placing Alberta’s political development within the wider Canadian context, The Dawn of Competitive Party Politics in Alberta: An End to Solitude provides historical context for today’s political debates around independence and highlights the role provinces play in determining the character and future of the country. 

“Our strength comes in allowing our differences to flourish,” says Sayers. “This is the genius of Canada.”

 The Dawn of Competitive Party Politics in Alberta: An End to Solitude is available for purchase at Indigo Canada and other booksellers.