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That certainly isn’t the whole answer, not when most Edmontonians voted blue.

Yes, Edmontonians voted for a full slate of NDP candidates provincially.

But that was in large part because of Rachel Notley’s personality, and in even larger part because of disgust with Jim Prentice and the Progressive Conservatives. Since then, the price of oil has fallen, the economy has softened, and the newbie New Democrats have struggled to find their feet. It could be that Monday night’s results were also a rebound against the Notley government and against a progressive agenda.

Or maybe, Edmontonians used up all their appetite for risk and hope in May, and voted this time for what they thought were more prudent, conservative choices.

The irony is that we may have shut ourselves out of influence we might have had in this new regime. Now, pending the results in Mill Woods, it seems Boissonault may have to carry that load alone. Bilingual, a former Rhodes Scholar, an experienced businessman, with a solid relationship with Mayor Don Iveson, Boissonault should handle the responsibility well. But it would be great for Edmonton if Sohi, an experienced political leader who knows the urban infrastructure file well, ends up joining him in the caucus — and perhaps at the cabinet table.

As for our phalanx of Conservative MPs? They’ve a big job ahead of them, too. If Harper steps down as leader, the battered Conservatives need to rebuild themselves. The leadership battle, and the battle for the soul of the party, is likely to be ferocious. And the Conservatives are going to need good-hearted veterans like Lake, and whip-smart newcomers like Stubbs to help them through that transition.

They will need to be strong opposition voices, too, making sure to hold the new Liberal majority to account. That’s not a role that’s going to come easily to a lot of Conservatives. It’s certainly not the role they expected. But we need them, too, to be our voices in Ottawa, to advocate for our interests, and to make sure that Alberta’s and Edmonton’s interests are served.

psimons@edmontonjournal.com

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