In first Alberta campaign stop, Carney promises 'new clean energy era'

Liberal Leader Mark Carney pitched Alberta as the heart of a new superpower in both clean and conventional energy Tuesday night as part of his first campaign stop in the province.

"I thought I was in Calgary," Carney said of the reception from the crowd of more than 1,000 that had gathered at the Red & White Club at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, the home of the CFL's Calgary Stampeders.

"This is amazing!"

Party organizers claimed around 2,300 people had shown up to the event, while around 3,000 had RSVP'd. Screens were set up outside the venue for those who couldn't make it inside.

Alberta has largely gone reliably to the Conservative Party in past federal elections and is a safe bet to continue that trend.

However, polling averages calculated by CBC's Poll Tracker suggests Liberal support in Alberta has doubled since 2021 (mostly at the expense of the federal NDP). The Liberals had two seats in the province when Parliament was dissolved.

Before the event began, supporters wearing Team Canada jerseys snaked around the building. One man sported a "Canada is not for sale" hat, popularized by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

"I've been a lifelong conservative voter until now," said Don Franklin, who was in line wearing an "Elbows Up" T-shirt. "I'm motivated this year to show my support for the Liberals. I actually joined the Liberal Party this year, my first time."

Many expressed that Carney was, in their view, best positioned to take on U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats. Others standing in line voiced concern around affordability, housing, the environment and the need for balanced energy policy.

Tasnuva Hayden, an electrical engineer who works in the oil and gas industry, said she has always been for an east-west pipeline, but also said she is ready for the energy transition.

"I hope that, yes, we build more pipelines to get our product to international markets that are not the U.S., but at the same time … we really do need to get on to the energy transition now," she said. "We are going to be left behind."

Pollster Janet Brown believes there are four ridings in Calgary where Liberal prospects are good — Calgary Centre, Calgary Confederation, Calgary McKnight and Calgary Skyview.

"However, since 'Liberation Day' some polls are showing a softening of the Liberal numbers, suggesting that as fear of Trump softens, so do the Liberal numbers," Brown said in an email to CBC News.

During his speech, Carney emphasized his ties to Alberta, long a Conservative stronghold in federal elections. Calgary is the hometown of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre.