Leader of The Opposition
Manning retired as premier a year later, and Harry Strom was named his successor. However, after three decades in power, Social Credit had become tired and complacent. The first sign of a momentum shift came soon after Manning's retirement, when the PCs managed to take his former seat in a by-election. Over the next three years, the Tories built their tiny caucus up to 10 members with one other by-election win and two floor-crossings.
During the 1970 spring session, Lougheed moved to position the PCs as a credible alternative to the Socreds. His party introduced 21 bills, an unusual number for an opposition party in a Westminster system.
Read more about this topic: Peter Lougheed
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