Drew-BC,

Arguably, the Alberta range of political preferences can't be shoehorned in 2 Parties: (a) the proposed UCP encompassing social conservatives, free-marketeers, & Red Tories, etc., & (b) one of social democrats & an array of progressive centrists.

You & I both note the difficulties that the UCP will have coalescing its array & the likelihood that this attempt will be marked by (a) top-down Harper-like discipline, (b) a focus on demonizing the other Party as the only means of maintaining at least minimal cohesion, (c) periodic defections.

Wouldn't an attempt to merge all the elements to the left of the UCP into one Party produce the mirror UCP image?  Doesn't the shambolic spectacle of the current US 2 Federal Parties reflect the folly that offers?

I do agree that the NDP should be open to more centrist progressive elements & that there is an opportunity for the remaining centrists to coalesce as a 3rd Party.

The similarities of BC & Alberta politics grows by the day.