# 1986 Alberta general election

The 1986 Alberta general election was held on May 8, 1986, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
Peter Lougheed, who had created the modern Alberta Progressive Conservatives, led it to power in 1971, and served as premier of Alberta for fourteen years, retired from politics in 1985. The PC Party elected Don Getty as its new leader.
Getty was not able to gain the confidence of Albertans as Lougheed had, and the party's popular vote fell by ten percentage points. The PCs were still, however, able to win a fifth term in government, with over half the votes in the province, and 61 of the 83 seats in the legislature. While the PC's continued to dominate in Calgary and rural Alberta, unlike previous PC victories the party was badly routed in the provincial capital Edmonton where it won only four seats.
The New Democratic Party, now led by Ray Martin, was able to make itself the focus of opposition to the PC government, winning almost 30% of the vote, and sixteen seats in the legislature (up from two in the 1982 election), mostly in Edmonton where they became the dominant political party. This was a salutary result after the tragic death of its leader, Grant Notley, in 1984. It would again take 16 seats in the next election. These two elections were the NDP's best result in any election until it won government in the 2015 election.
The Liberal Party of Nicholas Taylor returned to the legislature for the first time since 1969 with four seats. Two seats were won by former Social Credit members who had formed the Representative Party of Alberta after winning re-election in 1982 as independents.
Western Canada Concept, a western separatist party that had won almost 12% of the vote in 1982, collapsed under the leadership of Jack Ramsay, who later served as a Reform Party of Canada Member of Parliament.
The Social Credit Party of Alberta nominated no candidates. The party had governed Alberta for 36 years before getting bounced out of power by the Tories in 1971.
The 22-member opposition in the Alberta Legislature was the largest since 1971. Although the opposition MLAs were still outnumbered three to one by Conservative MLAs, they presented a significant competitive voice to the dominant Conservative Party. The NDP, long the most able, visible and popular opposition group in the Legislature now were granted status of Official Opposition. The existence of the moderately large opposition is counter to the pattern of Alberta both before and after of having minuscule opposition in the Legislature, one party dominance for a long period followed by landslide in favour of a new party. (The miniscule opposition was time after time artificially produced by election system. From 1940 to 1971 Social Credit never received more than 60 percent of the vote but almost always got than 80 percent of the seats. The Progressive Conservative from 1971 to 1982 got 46-70 percent of the votes but each time got about 20 percent more of the seats than its due.)
Thus the 1986 Legislature was part of a break, short lived as it happened, in the usual pattern of Alberta politics that some describe as ideologically conservative, anachronistic, odd and unpredictable. It was thought by some that Alberta politics was beginning to resemble that of Canada's other provinces.
UofA prof Allan Tupper said the rise of a new, competent opposition was a healthy development in Alberta's politics and would likely contribute positively to Alberta's economic and social well-being.
However, in 1993, the NDP caucus was obliterated, and the Liberal became the Official Opposition. And Conservatives received 61 percent of the seats (although with only 45 percent of the votes) and thus still held overwhelming dominance in the Legislature, with a three to two ratio of seats over the opposition.

## Results

Overall voter turnout was 47.25%.
| Party | Party | Party leader | Candidates | Seats | Seats | Seats | Popular vote | Popular vote | Popular vote |
| Party | Party | Party leader | Candidates | 1982 | Elected | % Change | # | % | % Change |
| | Progressive Conservative | Don Getty | 83 | 75 | 61 | -18.7% | 366,783 | 51.40% | -10.88% |
| | New Democratic | Ray Martin | 83 | 2 | 16 | +700% | 208,561 | 29.22% | +10.47% |
| | Liberal | Nicholas Taylor | 63 | - | 4 | | 87,239 | 12.22% | +10.41% |
| | Representative | Raymond Speaker | 46 | * | 2 | * | 36,656 | 5.15% | * |
| | Independent | Independent | 20 | 2 | - | -100% | 6,134 | 0.86% | -3.01% |
| | Western Canada Concept | Jack Ramsay | 20 | - | - | - | 4,615 | 0.65% | -11.11% |
| | Confederation of Regions | Elmer Knutson | 6 | * | - | * | 2,866 | 0.40% | * |
| | Heritage | Mike Pawlus | 6 | * | - | * | 601 | 0.08% | * |
| | Communist | David Wallis | 6 | - | - | - | 199 | 0.03% | -0.01% |
| Total | Total | Total | 333 | 79 | 83 | - | 713,654 | 100% | |
| Source: Elections Alberta ||||||||||
Note:
* Party did not nominate candidates in the previous election.
Popular vote
PC
51.40%
New Democratic
29.22%
Liberal
12.22%
Representative
5.15%
Others
2.01% :
Seats summary
PC
73.49%
New Democratic
19.28%
Liberal
4.82%
Representative
2.41% :

## Results by riding

| Electoral district | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Candidates | Incumbent |
| Electoral district | PC | PC | NDP | NDP | Liberal | Liberal | Representative | Representative | Other | Other | Incumbent | Incumbent |
| Athabasca-Lac La Biche | | Bill Kostiw 3,098 35.97% | | Leo Piquette 3,372 39.15% | | Don J. Corse 1,942 22.55% | | | | Peter Mihailuk (WCC) 184 2.14% | |
| Banff-Cochrane | | Greg Stevens 4,536 65.83% | | Ed Fisher 1,452 21.07% | | | | Betty Ann Stimson 436 6.33% | | Bill Deacon (Ind.) 444 6.44% | Greg Stevens |
| Barrhead | | Kenneth R. Kowalski 5,092 57.74% | | Larry E. McConnell 2,303 26.11% | | Mary Lou Ehrenholz 637 7.22% | | Ferne Nutt 235 2.66% | | Herb Brent (Ind.) 539 6.11% | Kenneth R. Kowalski |
| Bonnyville | | Ernie Isley 3,630 65.24% | | Thomas J. Tucker 1,663 29.89% | | | | | | Vern McCaig (WCC) 256 4.60% | Ernie Isley |
| Bow Valley | | Tom N. Musgrove 3,395 57.82% | | Vanore Voaklander 205 3.49% | | Horace Andrew Olson 1,046 17.81% | | Martha Andrews 1,220 20.78% | | | Tom N. Musgrove |
| Calgary-Bow | | Neil Webber 5,392 55.84% | | Scott Jeffrey 3,336 34.54% | | Annyteh K. Pezuolla 611 6.33% | | | | Douglas Attfield (Her.) 269 2.80% | Neil Webber |
| Calgary-Buffalo | | Brian Craig Lee 3,437 34.54% | | George Chatsis 1,089 10.94% | | Sheldon Chumir 5,242 52.68% | | Colin Svendsen 153 1.54% | | | Brian Craig Lee |
| Calgary-Currie | | Dennis L. Anderson 5,483 59.52% | | Glenn Miller 1,654 17.95% | | Rork Hilford 1,842 20.00% | | | | Peter Grizans (Ind.) 219 2.38% | Dennis L. Anderson |
| Calgary-Egmont | | David John Carter 5,781 66.90% | | Tom Chesterman 1,740 20.14% | | Bernie C. Tanner 1,102 12.75% | | | | | David John Carter |
| Calgary-Elbow | | David J. Russell 4,515 65.16% | | Susan C. Liddy 1,119 16.15% | | Frank Wishlow 1,268 18.30% | | | | | David J. Russell |
| Calgary-Fish Creek | | William Edward Payne 7,852 69.41% | | Kerin Spaargaren 1,882 16.64% | | Lea Russell 1,553 13.73% | | | | | William Edward Payne |
| Calgary-Foothills | | Janet Koper 6,111 55.29% | | Thora Miessner 2,572 23.27% | | Len Wolstenholme 1,741 15.75% | | J. Allen Howard 623 5.64% | | | Janet Koper |
| Calgary-Forest Lawn | | Moe Amiri 2,410 34.55% | | Barry Pashak 2,492 35.73% | | Gene Czaprowski 1,111 15.93% | | Douglas Williams 237 3.40% | | Mikey Graham (Ind.) 271 3.90% Gerald K. Lee (Ind.) 224 3.22% Independent Dorothy Bohdan (Ind.) 109 1.57% Independent Jim Othen (Ind.) 67 0.96% Bruce Potter (Comm.) 28 0.40% | John Zaozirny |
| Calgary-Glenmore | | Dianne Mirosh 5,718 60.18% | | Kelly Hegg 1,337 14.07% | | Lois Cummings 2,033 21.40% | | | | Larry R Heather (Ind.) 384 4.04% | Hugh L. Planche |
| Calgary-McCall | | Stanley Kenneth Nelson 5,418 62.99% | | Ken Richmond 2,435 28.31% | | John J. Gleason 730 8.49% | | | | | Stanley Kenneth Nelson |
| Calgary-McKnight | | Eric Charles Musgreave 4,823 55.01% | | Sandra Botting 2,610 29.77% | | Carol Reimer 1,307 14.91% | | | | | Eric Charles Musgreave |
| Calgary-Millican | | Gordon Wells Shrake 3,204 47.92% | | David Davis Swan 2,512 37.57% | | James Jude Smith 588 8.79% | | Barry M. Bernard 148 2.21% | | Dave Wereschuk (Ind.) 209 3.13% | Gordon Wells Shrake |
| Calgary-Montrose | | Rick Orman 4,395 59.63% | | Frank Gereau 2,035 27.61% | | Roly Thomas 710 9.63% | | Adrian C. Janssens 218 2.96% | | | |
| Calgary-Mountain View | | Jim Prentice 5,267 43.39% | | Robert Andrew Hawkesworth 5,524 45.51% | | Doug Rae 1,139 9.38% | | | | Tom Erhart (Ind.) 172 1.42% | Bohdan Zip |
| Calgary-North Hill | | Frederick Alan Stewart 5,545 54.26% | | Noel Jantzie 2,940 28.77% | | Pauline Kay 1,189 11.64% | | Tom Gorman 511 5.00% | | | Ed Oman |
| Calgary-North West | | Stan Cassin 7,775 62.40% | | Tom Schepens 3,376 27.09% | | Dean Biollo 1,284 10.30% | | | | | Sheila Embury |
| Calgary-Shaw | | Jim Dinning 6,694 61.38% | | Len Curle 1,166 10.69% | | Brendan Dunphy 2,727 25.01% | | Byron L. Chenger 295 2.71% | | | |
| Calgary-West | | Elaine McCoy 6,846 64.33% | | Joseph Yanchula 2,354 22.12% | | George Francom 1,390 13.06% | | | | | Peter Lougheed |
| Camrose | | Ken Rostad 5,312 54.91% | | Gordon Ekelund 2,269 23.45% | | Ralph Tate 758 7.84% | | J.A. (Jim) Watson 697 7.20% | | Jack Ramsay (WCC) 634 6.55% | Gordon Stromberg |
| Cardston | | Jack Ady 2,679 60.08% | | Cynthia Cunningham 389 8.72% | | | | | | Steve Pinchak (Ind.) 1,376 30.86% | John Thompson |
| Chinook | | Henry Kroeger 3,796 79.35% | | Lavera Gladys Creasy 959 20.05% | | | | | | | Henry Kroeger |
| Clover Bar | | Muriel Abdurahman 2,811 27.71% | | Ken Robinson 2,085 20.55% | | Barry Shandro 444 4.38% | | Walt A. Buck 4,795 47.26% | | | Walt A. Buck |
| Cypress-Redcliff | | Alan Hyland 2,482 52.40% | | Lew Toole 558 11.78% | | | | Lloyd B. Robinson 1,682 35.51% | | | |
| Drayton Valley | | Shirley Cripps 5,330 61.00% | | Lawrence Dublenko 2,275 26.04% | | Phil J. Gibeau 594 6.80% | | Ron Williams 301 3.44% | | Gordon Reid (WCC) 219 2.51% | Shirley Cripps |
| Drumheller | | Stan Schumacher 4,906 60.97% | | Sid Holt 1,154 14.34% | | | | Norman A. Stanger 1,729 21.49% | | Peter Hope (Ind.) 244 3.03% | Lewis (Mickey) Clark |
| Dunvegan | | Glen Clegg 4,146 51.05% | | Jim Gurnett 3,944 48.56% | | | | | | | |
| Edmonton-Avonmore | | Horst A. Schmid 4,140 41.17% | | Marie Laing 4,234 42.10% | | Michael Brings 1,117 11.11% | | Karl R. Badke 416 4.14% | | Mike Walker (WCC) 140 1.39% | Horst A. Schmid |
| Edmonton-Belmont | | Walter R. Szwender 3,160 30.19% | | Thomas Sigurdson 4,491 42.91% | | Pat Sembaliuk 2,486 23.75% | | Bette Davies 198 1.89% | | Joe Kovacs (Her.) 67 0.64% David Wallis (Comm.) 39 0.37% | Walter R. Szwender |
| Edmonton-Beverly | | Bill W. Diachuk 3,917 34.30% | | Ed W. Ewasiuk 6,699 58.66% | | Jim Shinkaruk 784 6.87% | | | | | Bill W. Diachuk |
| Edmonton-Calder | | Tony Falcone 2,910 28.82% | | Christie Mjolsness 5,114 50.65% | | Al Iafolla 1,925 19.07% | | | | Dave Draginda (WCC) 111 1.10% Martin Robbert (Comm.) 26 0.26% | Tom Chambers |
| Edmonton-Centre | | Mary LeMessurier 3,816 40.21% | | William Roberts 3,976 41.89% | | Douglas Haydock 1,384 14.58% | | | | Fred Marshall (WCC) 182 1.92% Leonard Stahl (Ind.) 103 1.09% | Mary LeMessurier |
| Edmonton-Glengarry | | Ihor Broda 3,720 35.26% | | John Younie 5,371 50.91% | | Hugh W. Burgess 1,191 11.29% | | Lou Peterson 147 1.39% | | Herb Lang (WCC) 99 0.94% | Rollie Cook |
| Edmonton-Glenora | | Nancy Betkowski 5,193 52.33% | | Jim Bell 2,918 29.40% | | Colin P. McDonald 1,352 13.62% | | C.A. Douglas Ringrose 312 3.14% | | Alice Elaine Moody (WCC) 133 1.34% | Lou Hyndman |
| Edmonton-Gold Bar | | Alois Paul Hiebert 4,150 28.24% | | Randy Morse 4,142 28.18% | | Bettie Hewes 6,378 43.40% | | | | | Alois Paul Hiebert |
| Edmonton-Highlands | | David T. King 3,507 42.37% | | Pam Barrett 4,159 50.25% | | Naseer A. Chaudhary 417 5.04% | | Todd R.C. Ross 83 1.00% | | Naomi Rankin (Comm.) 51 0.62% Cec Garfin (Her.) 30 0.36% | David T. King |
| Edmonton-Jasper Place | | Leslie Gordon Young 4,357 40.01% | | Vair Clendenning 4,286 39.36% | | Karen Leibovici 1,947 17.88% | | Michael P. Astle 157 1.44% | | Curtis Long (WCC) 122 1.12% | Leslie Gordon Young |
| Edmonton-Kingsway | | Allen Wasnea 3,491 38.15% | | Alex McEachern 4,669 51.02% | | Patrick Reid 896 9.79% | | | | Bowden John Zachara (Her.) 78 0.85% | Carl Paproski |
| Edmonton-Meadowlark | | Gerard Joseph Amerongen 4,222 36.55% | | Muriel Stanley-Venne 2,315 20.04% | | Grant Mitchell 4,913 42.54% | | R. (Bob) Genis-Bell 176 1.52% | | Norm Kyle (WCC) 90 0.78% | Gerard Joseph Amerongen |
| Edmonton-Mill Woods | | Milt Pahl 4,004 41.87% | | Gerry Gibeault 4,103 42.90% | | Philip Lister 861 9.00% | | Richard Mather 445 4.65% | | Mike Pawlus (Her.) 132 1.38% | Milt Pahl |
| Edmonton-Norwood | | Catherine Chichak 1,942 25.56% | | Ray Martin 5,272 69.38% | | David R. Long 359 4.72% | | | | | Ray Martin |
| Edmonton-Parkallen | | Neil S. Crawford 5,612 44.43% | | Jim Russell 5,310 42.04% | | Jerry Paschen 1,100 8.71% | | James Carson 593 4.69% | | | Neil S. Crawford |
| Edmonton-Strathcona | | Julian Koziak 4,467 37.47% | | Gordon S.B. Wright 6,443 54.04% | | Peter Schneider 788 6.61% | | Shane Gordon Venner 102 0.86% | | Dexter B. Dombro (WCC) 72 0.60% Robin Boodle (Comm.) 26 0.22% | Julian Koziak |
| Edmonton-Whitemud | | Donald Ross Getty 7,436 57.58% | | Tony Higgins 3,875 30.01% | | Eric Wolfman 1,135 8.79% | | Bert Beinert 366 2.83% | | Walter Stack (WCC) 92 0.71% | Keith Alexander |
| Fort McMurray | | Norman A. Weiss 4,152 48.49% | | Ann Dort Maclean 3,391 39.61% | | Shane Davis 1,010 11.80% | | | | | |
| Grande Prairie | | Bob Elliott 6,239 61.43% | | Bernie Desrosiers 3,095 30.47% | | | | Andy Haugen 557 5.48% | | Roy Housworth (Ind.) 240 2.36% | Bob Elliott |
| Highwood | | Harry E. Alger 5,336 66.32% | | William C. McCutcheon 1,054 13.10% | | | | Murray Meszaros 811 10.08% | | | Harry E. Alger |
| Innisfail | | Nigel I. Pengelly 4,309 65.83% | | Tony Mazurkewich 1,033 15.78% | | | | Raymond C. Reckseidler 411 6.28% | | George Conway-Brown (WCC) 472 7.21% Jack Lynass (C.O.R.) 303 4.64% | Nigel I. Pengelly |
| Lacombe | | Ron A. Moore 4,079 77.71% | | Ken Ling 1,151 21.93% | | | | | | | Ron A. Moore |
| Lesser Slave Lake | | Larry R. Shaben 2,529 56.90% | | Bert Dube 1,892 42.56% | | | | | | | Larry R. Shaben |
| Lethbridge-East | | Archibald Dick Johnston 4,567 51.98% | | Sylvia A. Campbell 2,188 24.90% | | John I. Boras 2,009 22.87% | | | | | Archibald Dick Johnston |
| Lethbridge-West | | John Gogo 3,999 48.50% | | Ed Webking 2,006 24.33% | | Al Barnhill 1,579 19.15% | | Douglas Pitt 532 6.45% | | Nora Galenzoski (C.O.R.) 106 1.29% | John Gogo |
| Little Bow | | Cliff Wright 1,805 30.25% | | Christina Tomaschuk 137 2.30% | | Dean Oseen (C.O.R.) 158 2.65% Ben Loman 65 1.09% | | Raymond Albert Speaker 3,791 63.54% | | | Raymond Albert Speaker |
| Lloydminster | | Doug Cherry 3,580 69.23% | | Gary McCorquodale 1,567 30.30% | | | | | | | James Edgar Miller |
| Macleod | | LeRoy Fjordbotten 4,054 65.93% | | Laurie Fiedler 759 12.34% | | | | Ed Shimek 1,303 21.19% | | | LeRoy Fjordbotten |
| Medicine Hat | | James Horsman 7,717 65.72% | | Stan Chmelyk 1,373 11.69% | | David J. Carter 2,624 22.35% | | | | | James Horsman |
| Olds-Didsbury | | Roy Brassard 5,204 66.36% | | Tom Monto 823 10.49% | | | | | | Elmer Knutson (C.O.R.) 1,785 22.85% | Stephen Stiles |
| Peace River | | Al (Boomer) Adair 3,775 59.81% | | Adele Gale Boucher 2,057 32.59% | | | | Joseph (Little Joe) Kessler 291 4.61% | | Anna Pidruchney (Ind.) 174 2.76% | Al (Boomer) Adair |
| Pincher Creek-Crowsnest | | Frederick Deryl Bradley 3,134 51.35% | | Mike Cooper 2,948 48.30% | | | | | | | Frederick Deryl Bradley |
| Ponoka-Rimbey | | Halvar C. Jonson 3,601 61.94% | | Pat Byers 1,138 19.57% | | Mel H. Buffalo 349 6.00% | | | | Warren Bloomquist (WCC) 701 12.06% | |
| Red Deer-North | | Stockwell Day 2,808 41.48% | | Bruce Beck 1,279 18.89% | | Donald Campbell 2,372 35.04% | | Elvin Janzen 153 2.26% | | Brian Flewwelling (Ind.) 146 2.16% | |
| Red Deer-South | | John Oldring 4,023 56.09% | | Connie Barnaby 1,667 23.24% | | Lionel Lizee 1,455 20.29% | | | | | |
| Redwater-Andrew | | Steve Zarusky 3,539 46.55% | | Denis Bobocel 2,761 36.31% | | Adrianus Kuiper 309 4.06% | | Michael Senych 981 12.90% | | | George Topolnisky |
| Rocky Mountain House | | John Murray Campbell 3,844 53.19% | | Dolly (Martin) Brown 1,266 17.52% | | Bob Paston 622 8.61% | | Lavern J. Ahlstrom 1,042 14.42% | | Art Carritt (C.O.R.) 436 6.05% | John Murray Campbell |
| Sherwood Park | | Peter Elzinga 6,377 56.41% | | Ted Paszek 3,183 28.16% | | Steven Lindop 1,541 13.63% | | Ernie Townsend 196 1.73% | | | |
| Smoky River | | Marvin Moore 4,793 64.68% | | Martin Cree 1,546 20.86% | | Colin Nash 272 3.67% | | Conrad LeBlanc 773 10.43% | | | Marvin Moore |
| St. Albert | | Myrna Fyfe 4,580 40.70% | | Bryan Strong 4,700 41.77% | | Thomas Henry Droege 745 6.62% | | William Ernest Jamison 1,215 10.80% | | | Myrna Fyfe |
| St. Paul | | John Drobot 3,018 47.82% | | Martin Naundorf 1,429 22.64% | | George Michaud 463 7.34% | | Roland F. Rocque 1,380 21.87% | | | John Drobot |
| Stettler | | Brian C. Downey 3,938 57.68% | | Fred J. Rappel 1,058 15.50% | | Red Peeples 1,508 22.09% | | | | Iris Bourne (WCC) 308 4.51% | Graham L. Harle |
| Stony Plain | | Jim Heron 4,535 43.58% | | Rick Hardy 3,046 29.27% | | Ed Wilson 1,285 12.35% | | Ernest Clintberg 1,343 12.90% | | J. Richard Dougherty (WCC) 186 1.79% | William Frederick Purdy |
| Taber-Warner | | Robert Bogle 4,483 66.75% | | Jim Renfrow 756 11.26% | | | | John Voorhorst 1,442 21.47% | | | Robert Bogle |
| Three Hills | | Connie Osterman 5,924 83.20% | | Vernal Poole 1,169 16.42% | | | | | | | Connie Osterman |
| Vegreville | | Ron Rudkowsky 3,328 38.82% | | Derek Fox 3,903 45.53% | | John A. Sawiak 174 2.03% | | Allen Antoniuk 1,150 13.42% | | | John S. Batiuk |
| Vermilion-Viking | | Steve West 4,228 71.36% | | Mervin Stephenson 1,671 28.20% | | | | | | | Tom Lysons |
| Wainwright | | Robert A. (Butch) Fischer 4,244 68.44% | | Willy Kelch 1,106 17.84% | | Joseph A. Vermette 365 5.89% | | | | Allen Abrassart (WCC) 475 7.66% | Robert A. (Butch) Fischer |
| West Yellowhead | | Ian Reid 3,207 44.73% | | Phil Oakes 3,005 41.92% | | Laurie Switzer 749 10.45% | | | | Lorraine Oberg (WCC) 187 2.61% | |
| Westlock-Sturgeon | | Lawrence Kluthe 4,049 34.84% | | Bruce Lennon 1,996 17.17% | | Nicholas Taylor 4,523 38.91% | | Tom Carleton 911 7.84% | | Adam Hauch (C.O.R.) 78 0.67% Laurent St. Denis (Comm.) 29 0.25% Stan Pearson (Her.) 25 0.22% | |
| Wetaskiwin-Leduc | | Donald H. Sparrow 5,823 55.57% | | M. (Dick) Devries 3,061 29.21% | | Kathleen Crone 740 7.06% | | Harold L. Schneider 488 4.66% | | W.L. (Bud) Iverson (WCC) 208 1.99% John Tolsma (Ind.) 130 1.24% | Donald H. Sparrow |
| Whitecourt | | Peter Trynchy 4,038 54.07% | | Richard Davies 1,349 18.06% | | Rick Allen 459 6.15% | | Merv Zadderey 1,611 21.57% | | | Peter Trynchy |