Political parties add clarity and confusion to Calgary municipal election

For the first time in the history of Calgary, political parties could have a big impact on the outcome of a municipal election.

That’s because the provincial government passed legislation last year allowing candidates in Calgary and Edmonton to run under a party banner.

While many of the candidates have been trying to stake their claim to one side of the political spectrum or another, the sea of colourful candidate signs that have popped up across the city, some of them running for a party and some not, have only added to the confusion of who is allied with who and what they stand for.

While Communities First — with mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp — claims to not be closely allied with any provincial or federal political party, instead portraying themselves as “like minded individuals c