Liberal majority win greeted with optimism by Nenshi, Notley

Though a Calgarian no longer occupies Canada's top political job, the city will still have representation in Ottawa under the new Liberal government.

Liberals Darshan Kang and Kent Hehr are heading to the capital as Liberal MPs unheard ofin nearly five decades.

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And as red seeped onto Calgary's traditionally all-blue electoral map, reaction was quickto come pouring in.

"We've prospered under Liberal governments before, you know, great booms under the Chrtien government as well," said Calgary MayorNaheed Nenshi. "We're entrepreneurial people, we know what we're doing."

With Calgary stops at the beginning and end of his campaign,Trudeau signaled he understood there was ground to gain in the southern Alberta city.

Nenshi is hopeful Trudeau makes good on hiscampaign promise the Liberals made to fund the LRT Green Line and flood-mitigation projects.

"The Liberal Party had a strong platform as relates to cities and we look forward to working with them on building transit, creating a better national housing strategy, and building infrastructure," saidNenshi.

Alberta leaders react

Fresh off her own stunningconservative dethroning, NDP premier Rachel Notleycongratulated Alberta voters.

• Alberta Premier Rachel Notley wants to work collaboratively with Trudeau

"No matter what your political stripes, you have demonstrated to Albertans the importance of democracy," said Notley in a written statement.

NotleyechoedNenshi's optimism aboutwhat a Liberal government could meanfor Alberta.

"I look forward to working collaboratively with him to build a strong Alberta within a strong Canada," said Notley.

Brian Jean, leader of Alberta's Official Opposition,congratulated the incoming prime minister on a well-run campaign on behalf of the Wildrose Party.

"Wildrose will be a strong and forceful voice on behalf of Alberta jobs and Alberta's industries, including the energy sector," he said in a release.

"I commend Stephen Harper on his leadership and vision for the country over the past decade he is leaving Canada a stronger and more economically stable country than when he started. It was an honour to serve under his strong leadership," added Jean, who was a federal MP before taking the helm of Alberta'sWildroseParty.

NEP memories

In the days before the election, Trudeau acknowledged he was mindful of the feelings his family name evokes in some Albertans,since his father created the widely-hatedNational Energy Program (NEP) in the 1980s.

He said he will notuse western resources to try tobuy eastern votes, butthat commitment wasn't enough to ease the anxiety of interim Progressive Conservative leaderRic McIver.

"If they won, they won. I just hope he wasn't listening when he was sitting on his dads's knee to start with," said McIver.

Earlier in the day McIver was criticized after sending an "urgent" letter to the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta (PCAA) asking them to "get out and support the Conservative Party."

Some current and former colleagues said he didn't have consent from caucus or party membership.

McIver also said outgoing Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is owed a huge debt of gratitude from all Canadians.

"He has done a terrific job, supported the whole country and the city," said McIver.

Mixed feelings

Harper will continue to sit as an MP and the party is moving to select an interim leader and start the process of electing a new leader "immediately," according to a statement issued by the Conservatives on Tuesday.

In Harper's riding of Calgary Heritage where the outgoing prime minister was delivered a personal landslide reaction from voters ranged from cautious optimism to dread.

"I didn't vote for them," saidMike Letourneau. "But let's see what he can do."

Calgary voter Megan Belenky was less sanguine.

"Liberals don't tend to help usAlbertansout that much," she said.

NDP supporter Dennis Burns said it was time for Harper to go.

"I've never been so annoyed in my life by the prime minister and I've been on this planet a few decades," he said.

"He was just changing this country for the worst and now it's going be changed back."