The political executive and political leadership in Alberta

To outsiders, and even to many insiders, Alberta's political history seems exotic and bizarre. This is the province of "Bible Bill" Aberhart, of social credit funny money theory, populism, farmers' movements, wealth, envy and angst. For many eastern Canadians, Alberta is the nation's epicentre of red-necked conservatism, the most recent expression of which is the Reform party. Regional alienation in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick seems resigned and melancholy; Alberta's provincialism is aggressive. Alberta also has the dubious reputation of appearing uninterested in strong opposition parties and legislative democracy. Albertans seem to vote en masse for the dominant party, and like to keep it in power for decades on end. Provincial premiers, looked at from afar, resemble benign Latin American caudillos who are superficially populist but in fact rule their nations with iron will. When Albertans decide they want another party and leader in government, they vote as a bloc, make the change, and then settle down once again for a long stretch of single party dominance.