Alberta/IBNS: Alberta’s United Conservative Party (UCP) leader Danielle Smith was elected for a second term in Monday’s election despite losing seats in a tight battle against the New Democrats.

Danielle Smith will remain the premier of Alberta and promised to work for people of all political stripes.

Smith reportedly said that although many had written off her campaign, Albertans had chosen to “move our province forward by re-electing a strong, stable United Conservative government.”

After repeating many of her party’s goals, including diversifying the economy, improving health care and keeping taxes low, Smith shifted her attention to challenge the federal government and prime minister.

“And finally, my fellow Albertans, we need to come together no matter how we have voted to stand shoulder to shoulder against soon-to-be-announced Ottawa policies that would significantly harm our provincial economy,” Smith was reported as saying.

She called on Trudeau to halt the plan involving restrictions on electricity generation from natural gas and work with Alberta on an emissions strategy.

“Now Alberta is willing to be that partner and we need our federal government to show it is willing to partner in good faith as well,” Smith said.

Smith also argued that the former NDP government had failed with policies that hiked taxes and offered a tax break on the first day of the campaign.

The UCP and NDP were the only parties to run a full slate of 87 candidates.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)