CALGARY—After four weeks of campaigning, election day in Alberta is nearly here.

On April 16, we’ll see if the NDP’s campaign to paint the United Conservative Party as too untrustworthy and volatile succeeds, or if, as multiple polls predict, 2019 will bring the end of the orange wave in Alberta.

If you need a refresher on earlier campaign trail moments, you can also read our recaps of week 1, week 2 and week 3.

But with three days of campaigning left, the fight isn’t over yet. Here’s what you need to know about the last full week of election season in Alberta.

Cowtown smackdown

In the campaign’s final days, Calgary has emerged as the most important battleground in Alberta.

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NDP Leader Rachel Notley has held events in the city every day this past week, saying she’s “bullish” about her party’s chances here. But she faces long odds — the NDP needs to hold on to all the Calgary seats the party won during the 2015 orange wave, and gain some, for any hope of a majority government.

The UCP ground game has been ramping up in some of the key Calgary ridings this week too, with party leader Jason Kenney knocking on doors and rallying volunteers, at one point accompanied by a big Conservative name: Laureen Harper.

Political experts say that the outcome of the election depends on Calgary, and it’s bound to be a crucial piece of the puzzle on Tuesday.

“Kamikaze” campaign allegations keep going

On Wednesday, CBC published a story detailing documents that show email addresses fraudulently attached to UCP memberships were used to vote in the UCP leadership race.

It’s the latest allegation to emerge as questions swirl about the contest that Kenney won in 2017. Reports that Kenney knew about a plan to collaborate with another leadership candidate to attack former Wildrose Party leader Brian Jean during the race have followed the UCP leader throughout his quest to become premier.

The RCMP is also looking into aspects of the 2017 UCP leadership race. The UCP has denied any wrongdoing, and Kenney said Friday in a radio interview that the RCMP is not investigating his leadership win, and they are on a “fact-finding mission.”

Pipeline promises ... or just a pipe dream?

Notley put a date on federal approval for the long-awaited Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, saying she expects to see it get the green light by the end of May — and she’s willing to stake her political future on it.

But the timeline is based on what the NDP leader said is shifting public opinion and confidence in ongoing consultations with Indigenous groups — not a specific assurance from Ottawa.

Notley is using the prediction to issue a warning about a UCP government torpedoing the pipeline’s chances at a critical time. Kenney shot back that every prediction the NDP has made so far about getting the pipeline built hasn’t come true.

Stumping with Scheer

Federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer arrived in Calgary on Thursday to help Kenney rally the conservative base and rail against the “Trudeau-Notley alliance.”

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The event was a campaigning opportunity for both leaders, with Kenney describing Scheer as a key figure for getting a “fair deal” for Alberta, and the man who the UCP hopes will take down Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the fall.

Later, Kenney and Scheer shared pints while watching the Flames’ first playoff game.

On Friday, Notley was asked whether she would reach out to her federal counterparts for support during the campaign.

She said she doesn’t agree with federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh when it comes to pipelines, “so no, we are not going to be campaign together.”

Kenney breaks out the bullhorn

Shortly after Notley issued a strongly worded condemnation of Bill C-48 via a Senate committee teleconference Tuesday, Kenney pulled up to the hotel where she spoke, megaphone in hand, to address a pro-oil and gas rally outside.

The hotel was also hosting another Senate committee gathering feedback on Bill C-69 — that federal legislation, along with Bill C-48, have been roundly criticized by Alberta businesses as specifically harmful and unfair to the province’s energy sector.

Kenney turned the protest into a key campaign moment, vowing to get tough on people who would stand in the way of new pipelines and opportunities for oil and gas recovery as the crowd cheered him on.

More UCP candidates under scrutiny

Every week during election season has brought new reports about past hateful or otherwise problematic comments from UCP candidates. The last days of the campaign were a bit quieter, but a couple issues still made the news.

Last weekend, the NDP shared copies of a peace bond the UCP’s Jason Nixon signed in 2011, saying it shows “troubling” insight into his character. Nixon responded that the NDP is digging up past dirt to try to distract from election issues.

And on Monday, Star Edmonton published a story on West Yellowhead UCP candidate Martin Long, who once wrote that a Christian couldn’t support a government that endorses gay marriage, abortion and the minimum wage because they’re not biblical.

Long responded that he believes in same-sex marriage rights and supports the UCP position that the party will maintain Alberta’s $15 an hour minimum wage. He added that he supports the UCP position not to reopen a debate on abortion if the party forms government.

In a statement, he also said — like other UCP candidates who have had to answer questions about these types of statements — “Albertans are tired of being distracted by these divisive debates.”

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