Alberta Elects First Female Premier

Alison Redford's commitment to education and healthcare make her a controversial figure in the party.

In a wildly unanticipated outcome, Alberta has elected Alison Redford premier and leader of the province’s Progressive Conservative party. She is the first woman to take the post. Redford was victorious after an initial three-way leadership race was too close to call. Second choices from preferential ballots gave her the win over frontrunner Gary Mar, who had more first-choice votes. Mar walked out during her speech. Redford is known as the most liberal of the conservatives, pledging more money for education, healthcare, and the disabled. Though her mother died just 24 hours before this week's debate, she participated anyway and saw her popularity rapidly increase. An election is expected sometime within the next year.

Image courtesy of Reuters