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Some conservatives seem to think the next Alberta election is like a video game. Capture the spinning gold coin called Unity, hurl it at the hated NDP castle, and poof, Rachel Notley’s regime disappears.

A Jason Kenney staffer even tweeted a thank-you to the NDP for guaranteeing conservative unity after 10 years of division.

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The NDP’s next job is to ensure conservative victory, just by being itself.

It will be far more complicated than that. The United Conservative Party, if it’s formed, will have to move past one-note attacks and become a credible alternative. Albertans will have to see it as a government, not just a skilled scold.

That means reasonable and specific policy, of which there is not a scrap in the nine-page agreement between the PCs and Wildrose.

The deal says a 10-member committee will develop the policy. It will go before a UCP founding convention early next year, likely in February, for debate and voting.