Just a few days before Albertans head to the polls to elect a new provincial government, business leaders are warning that political extremism threatens to upend the province’s prosperity.

On Friday, the president of the non-partisan Business Council of Alberta, Adam Legge, said that one of their key concerns is “political polarization” and extremism creeping into Alberta’s politics. 

“We’re worried about societal and political polarization, overall. It seems to be a feature that has crept into North American politics,” said Legge.

“The future of this province depends on us getting our act together and being united from a policy standpoint, a public standpoint, and an economic standpoint.” 

As Alberta sees an economic boom, business groups are urging the province to focus on what’s important – growth. 

“Albertans as a whole generally are centrists. People want to see a good future for their families and that’s what we need to focus on,” said Legge.

“The next premier will need to decide whether we’re going to continue to fight amongst ourselves, or whether we’re actually going to seize the opportunities that exist.”

Questions about extremism within the Alberta NDP recently surfaced after it was revealed that at least five of the candidates currently being fielded by Rachel Notley have expressed sympathy for communism – a radical far-left ideology that has killed an estimated 100 million people worldwide. 

They include Edmonton–Ellerslie NDP candidate Rod Loyola who led a march of a Communist Party of Canada Edmonton Club parade with Soviet hammer and sickle banners in full display. 

Loyola has also written rap songs praising communist dictators like Fidel Castro. 

“Throwin’ it down like a real revolutionary, climbing mountains like Guevara, attacking like Fidel at the Moncada, yellin’ victory on horseback into Santa Clara,” sang Loyola.

Despite various reports raising red flags about the candidate’s extremist views, Notley has not asked any of the candidates to apologize or rescind their views.