OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has sent his "sincerest congratulations" to Alberta premier-elect Rachel Notley following a stunning victory by her New Democrats in the Alberta election.
In a statement issued early Wednesday, Harper said he looks forward to working with "future Premier Notley on issues of importance for Albertans and all Canadians" such as jobs and economic growth.
The NDP won its first majority government in Alberta on Tuesday night by toppling the Progressive Conservative colossus that had dominated the province for four decades.
The crushing defeat prompted Jim Prentice to announce he was stepping down as PC leader effective immediately and that he would leave the Calgary Foothills seat he had recaptured.
In his statement, Harper thanked Prentice for his public service and wished him the "best in his future endeavours.”
Prentice was a federal MP between 2004 and 2010 and held three portfolios in the Harper cabinet at Indian Affairs, Environment and Industry.
Conservative MPs gathering Wednesday for the weekly caucus meeting said they're confident the Alberta result won't echo in October's federal election.
"We've always worked hard with constituents and what we're hearing with constituents is that the federal party still has a lot of support in Alberta," said Edmonton MP Tim Uppal.
Ontario's David Tilson compared it to the 1990 provincial election in his province in which David Peterson and the Liberals were ousted by the NDP under Bob Rae.
Tilson attributed that result to anger against then-prime minister Brian Mulroney.
"I don't think that the same feeling against the Conservatives in Ottawa is the same as the feeling against Mr Mulroney in 1990," he said. "It is not even close."
Alberta Tory Kevin Sorenson said it's no time to panic.
"We are just going to keep doing what we're doing."
