Calgary—East

Calgary—East is an urban riding in the eastern part of Calgary encompassing the communities of Forest Lawn, Penbrooke Meadows, Marlborough Park, Forest Heights, and parts of the Greater Forest Lawn area along International Avenue. The riding is one of the most ethnically diverse in the province, with a high proportion of immigrant families and a significant South and Southeast Asian population. Established neighbourhoods with older housing stock characterize much of the area, and International Avenue serves as a commercial and cultural corridor reflecting the community's diversity. The riding's incumbent was Moe Amery, a Progressive Conservative who had represented Calgary-East since 1993, making him one of the longest-serving MLAs in the province.

Candidates

Robyn Luff (NDP) — Luff was a teacher before entering politics and was largely unknown in the riding heading into the campaign. Her candidacy was one of many across the province where NDP candidates won primarily on the strength of the province-wide wave rather than personal profile.

Moe Amery (Progressive Conservative) — Amery was born Mohammed Amiri in Lebanon in 1954 and came to Canada in 1974. He studied at the University of Alberta before relocating to Calgary to work as a realtor. He was first elected in 1993 after two unsuccessful bids in the old Calgary-Forest Lawn riding in 1986 and 1989. His twenty-two-year tenure as MLA made him a fixture in the community, and he had introduced several private member's bills during his time in the legislature.

Ali Waissi (Wildrose) — Waissi ran as the Wildrose candidate in the riding.

Naser Al-Kukhun (Liberal) — Al-Kukhun stood as the Liberal candidate.

Local Issues

Infrastructure and community investment in the Greater Forest Lawn area were longstanding grievances heading into 2015. Residents felt that east Calgary had been chronically underserved compared to newer suburban developments in the south and northwest, with aging roads, insufficient recreational facilities, and a need for upgraded schools. International Avenue, despite its vibrancy as a multicultural corridor, faced challenges with streetscape maintenance, pedestrian safety, and the perception of higher crime rates.

Immigrant settlement and integration were critical issues in a riding where a large share of the population had arrived in Canada within the previous generation. Foreign credential recognition remained a barrier for skilled professionals working in jobs below their qualifications, and demand for English language training, settlement services, and affordable housing outstripped available resources. Provincial funding for these programs was a campaign issue, particularly as the economic downturn threatened to reduce the tax revenues that supported social services.

The oil price collapse added a layer of economic anxiety to these longstanding structural concerns. Many residents of Calgary-East worked in trades, manufacturing, and service industries that were directly or indirectly tied to the energy sector, and the secondary effects of the downturn—slower hiring, reduced hours, and business closures along International Avenue—were felt throughout the community. The Prentice budget's tax increases, coming on top of economic stress, reinforced the sense that the governing party had lost touch with working-class voters.