I have a somewhat different view than most people I know. Take a look at this 2015 electoral map. The predominate narrative has been the election was a protest vote, and in part it was, but the populations of five cities decided the election. I don't pretend to be an expert in political science, but I think the answer is obvious: Over the past couple decades there has been an influx of immigrants from other provinces and countries, and they have settled, for the most part, in the cities -- and these people have no allegiance to historical Albertan political parties. Calgary's population just tipped over 1.5 million, and a large part of it flipped to the NDP. I don't think that was a coincidence. In contrast, rural Alberta has remained mostly static, with some population influx into the bedroom communities, and its idea of a protest vote was to move a little bit further right.

The next election will reveal a great deal, but I think it's quite possible there has been a political shift towards the left in the large population centers. Political strategists have recognized a shift left and a divided right has allowed a center left NDP to seize control; thus the push to unite the right.