Danielle Smith and her Wildrose Alliance Party are starting to have a direct impact on Ed Stelmach’s Tory administration in Alberta, witness the defections this week of MLAs Rob Anderson (Airdrie-Chestermere) and Heather Forsyth (Calgary-Fish Creek).

Although the WAP is still in the midst of developing its energy policy – aided by long-time Oilweek columnist David Yager – big C conservatives discovered during the last election campaign just how disaffected the province’s energy industry is with the Progressive Conservatives. Fundraising efforts were virtually cut off at the pass as oil industry execs spoke out with their wallets over Stelmach’s new royalty regime.

The WAP has grown quickly since the last election, and now counts more than 13,000 Albertans on its membership rolls, and the additions of Anderson and Forsyth will undoubtedly give the party a larger voice in the legislature, which has, until now, been manned for the party by Paul Hinman.

The Anderson/Forsyth defections are another nail in Stelmach’s coffin, which could be permanently sealed shut unless the province’s competitiveness review – due out sometime in the next several weeks – offers dramatic steps to improve the lot of the conventional oil and gas industry in Alberta.

Stay tuned…