Certainly part of it, for sure, though the broader point I've picked up from the provincial elections in the last couple years is that Canadian voters seem to require serious convincing from challenging parties before they switch course. In Ontario, in Manitoba, in Quebec, Alberta, and here, all government parties either over-performed expectations from the start of the campaign, or just flat-out defied all polling, and only in Quebec did it just
barely result in a change in government, and that seems to have reversed in the polling since.
The message I see in all of those for prospective challenging parties is that you can gain ground with a hope & change sentiment, but it's damn hard to win if that's all you're going to provide. The BC NDP, the PCs in Manitoba and Ontario, Wildrose in Alberta, just straight-up weren't specific and convincing enough, and if the voters in Canada aren't completely convinced, they'll side with the devil they know, even if they want something different deep down. You're a fascinating bunch.
