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Since then the riding has elected three NDP provincial members. “It’s a misnomer that Calgary is a conservative place — it’s a fallacy,” says Hehr.

As he powers down the sidewalk, hollering greetings to passersby, his father, Richard, trails in his wake, laden with campaign signs. “We’re making mistakes as fast as we can,” he jokes.

Hehr is a two-term Liberal MLA — a fact that gives him broad name recognition ‎and an easy-going manner on the doorsteps of Calgary Centre. “Hi, I’m Kent Hehr, running to be the first Liberal elected in the city since 1968 and I’m a reasonable guy most days.”

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A couple of hours canvassing illustrates why the Liberals, and Hehr in particular, are winning support, even from skeptical voters.

Sue Clark, an IT worker in the health industry, wonders what will happen to Alberta’s oil industry under the Liberals. “My family are losing their jobs,” she says.

‎Hehr says no political party can control the oil price but the Liberals are committed to building infrastructure like flood mitigation and light rail transit to take advantage of low interest rates and cheaper labour costs.

“When you’re a geophysicist, that’s not going to help you get a job,” says Clark. Hehr replies it will stop house prices plummeting, while the Liberals will do a better job accessing markets through pipelines.

Clark looks less doubtful. “As long as we don’t get the NDP I’ll be happy — I voted for them, like everyone else in this stupid province. But Albertans have a hard time with Liberals.”