Now, entering Act III with a majority government where she faces no serious threat by the opposition for four years, what direction will the newly re-elected premier take?
“We have to keep powering and diversifying our amazing economy,” she said, emphasizing the need to lower personal and business taxes and support the province’s energy sector.
“We need to come together no matter how we have voted, to stand shoulder to shoulder against soon-to-be announced Ottawa policies that would significantly harm our provincial economy.”
Political scientist Michael Wagner says if Smith intends to introduce any politically sensitive initiatives, she’s likely going to do it sooner rather than later so that it doesn’t jeopardize her chances in the next election. But he says the incentive remains for her to maintain the positions she had during the election, since she won.
“Generally speaking, the incentive would be more to stay that way,” he said in an interview.
But while Smith’s position as premier may be safe from opposition challenge for four years, the same can’t be said for challenge from the party grassroots. Her conservative predecessors Alison Redford and Jason Kenney both resigned their premiership before their terms were over.
“If she panders to the left of the centre, ... she’s going to get herself in trouble,” Rob Anders, a former Calgary MP, told The Epoch Times.
Anders is among those who want more fundamental changes within the party—something he says is possible now that many of the former ministers didn’t win their seats—and also wants to see the province bring in its own agencies, including a provincial police force and pension plan.
There are others who want to see more focus on reforming the health-care system and supporting the resource sector.
“Albertans, and Canadians across the country for that matter, would benefit from bold changes in terms of health reform, natural resource development, and many other areas,” Colin Craig, president of the think tank Secondstreet.org, told The Epoch Times.
“Alberta has been a leader in the past on the national stage. Hopefully Premier Smith is willing to push forward with policy changes both locally and on the national stage.”
Michael Solberg, a partner at Calgary-based New West Public Affairs, a national public affairs firm, says Smith will be looking to further solidifying party unity and collaborating with her caucus to come to a “consensus on ideas and policy.”
“You talk to almost anybody, they say Danielle is quite good at that. She'll have to sit down with her new caucus and understand where they’re coming from, and come to consensus on what should be done, including meeting some of her campaign commitments,” he said in an interview.
“I think that the confrontation between Alberta and Saskatchewan and [Ottawa’s environmental policies] is going to heat up,” Cooper said.
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