Agree that just a name change alone isn't what's important, they need to completely divest themselves from the federal NDP and it's policies. Essentially that makes them an entirely different party and would alienate their core voting block but that's the only way that half of the population will even consider voting for them. Let's not forget that not that long ago the NDP had a few seats and were considered the left wing fringe in Alberta, it's only because the Liberals are a joke and the Alberta Party couldn't get it's act together that the non-CPC vote coalesced around Notley. If the Liberals had re-branded after Taft lost in 2008 they would have formed government by now and the NDP would still have it's usual 2-4 seats.
Change to the Alberta Democrats, run on policy a little left of the old PC party, go with a bit darker shade of orange maybe, denounce the federal party as hostile to Alberta's interests, run a centrist campaign. They'd probably win 60 seats.
For anyone who turns their nose up at that, the NDP doesn't need to win your vote, they need to win votes from people who right now won't even read their platform.
|