The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, Feb. 21, edition that Alberta's election campaign, which must begin in the next two months, is expected to focus heavily on the economy and the province's oil sector, which has struggled in the face of low crude prices and a lack of new pipelines. The Globe's James Keller writes that the province has yet to fully recover from an economic downturn that has dragged on throughout the NDP's term in office, with about 170,000 people currently out of work, an increase in bankruptcies, a sluggish housing market and high vacancy rates in Calgary's downtown office towers. Prices for Alberta crude collapsed last year as the gap, or differential, between Western Canada Select and West Texas Intermediate topped $50 (U.S.) a barrel. After the production cuts, the differential quickly narrowed to about $10 (U.S.) a barrel, although it has since widened to about $15 (U.S.). Jason Kenney says his United Conservative Party would cancel the carbon tax immediately upon taking office. Mount Royal University political science professor Duane Bratt says Mr. Kenney is attempting to lay out a distinct change in the direction when it comes to the oil industry.