Canada election 2015: Tories vulnerable in some Calgary, Edmonton ridings, analyst says

Alberta isn't usually a closely watched battleground in federal elections, but after this fall's vote the map could be a little bit less Tory blue, an analyst says.

There are currently only two non-Conservative Members of Parliament — both in Edmonton.

And Calgary has not elected a non-Conservative MP since 1968.

• Canada election 2015: For once, Alberta is a campaign battleground​

But while rural Alberta will almost certainly stay blue, Edmonton and Calgary could see ridings up for grabs that have never before been in play, says Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt.

As many as four ridings could go to the Liberals in Calgary, he says. In particular, incumbent Joan Crockatt in Calgary Centre is in a battle with Kent Hehr, a provincial Liberal veteran.

And in Calgary Skyview, Tory Devinder Shory could be vulnerable to the Liberal's Darshan Kang, the former Calgary-McCall MLA.

On Monday federal Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau scheduled a meet and greet event at Matthew Grant's headquarters, who is running an aggressive campaign in Calgary Confederation against the Conservative's Len Webber, the former provincial PC MLA for Calgary-Foothills.

"The very fact that they're going to be in play means the leaders are going to come to Calgary," Bratt said.

"Previous liberal leaders kind of flew over Calgary and kind of waved as they went by. And so I think that's what's going to make the Alberta race interesting."

Bratt says the kind of breakthrough the NDP had provincially is not likely in the cards federally.

"I think there could be some of that in Edmonton, but I don't think so in Calgary. The NDP won a lot of seats due to vote splitting between the Wildrose and the PC party, now they're up against a unified Conservative Party," he said.

Oct. 19 is election day.