RED DEER, ALTA. – Alongside poppies on many lapels at the United Conservative Party’s annual general meeting on Friday were buttons proclaiming support for party leader and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

These were less outlandish than some of the attire (a hoodie reading “F–k Trudeau with a cactus,” for example), although the vast majority of the 6,000 or so attendees appeared as if they could just as easily be heading to church, the mall or hockey practice.