Watch above: Jim Prentice’s victory speech following landslide win in Alberta PC leadership race Saturday night
EDMONTON — Jim Prentice won a landslide victory in the Progressive Conservative leadership race Saturday and will soon be sworn in as Alberta’s 16th premier.
The 58-year-old former Calgary MP and cabinet minister won the three-way leadership race with 17,963 votes, or about 77 per cent. Ric McIver followed with 2,742 votes and 12 per cent; Thomas Lukaszuk received 2,681 votes and 11 per cent.
“The results are overwhelming. The results are clear,” he told party members at the Expo Convention Centre.
“The end of this leadership campaign represents a new beginning for Alberta. Today we begin the work of restoring trust in government and making Albertans proud of the people who represent them and serve our province.”
After a summer on the campaign trail, Prentice said he knows Albertan want less politics and more leadership.
“Over time the government has lost its way. And watching from afar, I was as disappointed and as frustrated as anyone. I wasn’t at the table when those decisions were made, but I am at the table now.”
Prentice thanked his family, fellow candidates and his volunteers.
“The thing that I’m most proud of is the hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of young people who comprised my campaign from the bottom to the top. These are young, talented, bright men and women and they represent the future of Alberta.”
Paul Fairie, a political scientist at the University of Calgary, compiled a graph looking at the number of votes cast in each of the past four Alberta PC leadership races.
Prentice now needs to gain a seat in the legislature and has already promised to call a byelection as soon as possible.
The only vacant seat is the one that was held by Redford, although Neil Brown of Calgary-Mackay-Nose Hill has offered to leave his seat so Prentice can run.
The next general election is slated for 2016.
WATCH: Prentice addresses the media following win Saturday night
Prime Minister Stephen Harper congratulated Prentice quickly after the results were announced.
“I look forward to working with Mr. Prentice on issues of importance for Albertans and all Canadians, including the economy, responsible resource development and job creation,” Harper said in a news release.
Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson also added their kudos.
“The new premier will have an eager partner at City Hall,” Nenshi said in a statement.
Iveson tweeted: “Look forward to building a stronger partnership with you and #ABgov to grow inclusion and prosperity in Edmonton.”
READ MORE: Well wishes, warnings of tough road ahead follow Prentice’s win as Alberta PC leader
Thousands of PC party members began casting their ballots at 6 a.m. Friday. Voting closed at 6 p.m. Saturday, but it wasn’t smooth sailing. Thousands of PC members voiced frustrations with the party’s new electronic system, many saying they were unable to cast their vote Friday and Saturday.
The PCs switched to electronic voting only, moving away from paper ballots. Members were to receive a PIN to vote online, but many said Friday they either didn’t receive a number or their number didn’t work. And the phone line set up to trouble shoot problems was overwhelmed with calls.
WATCH: PC members turn to social media to voice frustrations with electronic voting system
The Alberta PC leadership race kicked off in the spring, following former premier Alison Redford’s surprise resignation in March.
Prentice had been the favourite from the time he announced his candidacy.
Almost all members of the PC caucus announced their support for him. His campaign raised $1.8 million, more than double the $300,000 raised by Lukaszuk and $417,000 raised by McIver combined.
While accountability and restoring public trust in the PC party were the main focus throughout the campaign, Prentice came under fire when he floated the idea of term limits for Alberta premiers and MLAs.
In August, Prentice said limiting premiers to two terms and MLAs to three was needed to help improve transparency and accountability in government. However, the idea was immediately shot down by the other leadership contenders, forcing Prentice to back down on the idea.
READ MORE: Alberta PC leadership campaign not without missteps by candidates
“You can feel it across our province,” Prentice said in his acceptance speech. “Together we are building something special here. Everyone knows it. Now, let’s get this party back to work.”
The full text of Jim Prentice’s acceptance speech:
Jim Prentice’s speech: A New Era for Alberta
With files from The Canadian Press.
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