Alberta separatism. External Link Alberta Party Leader: Bruce Stubbs The Alberta Party did not nominate any candidates in 2001, but nominated four candidates for the 2004 election. External Link Communist Party Leader: Naomi Rankin The Communist Party nominated two candidates in the 2001 election, who combined for 117 votes. They ran two candidates in the 2004 election. The Equity Party Leader: Emil van der Poorten The Equity Party ran no candidates in this election, The party was de-registered after the Alberta government amended the Elections Act to force a party to run at least one candidate, the party failed to field a candidate and was de-registered. Reform Party Leader: David Salmon The Alberta Party, Equity Party and the Reform Party did not run any candidates in the 2001 election. The Equity Party and Reform Party were also absent from the ballot in 2004. The party was de-registered after the Alberta government amended the Elections Act to force a party to run at least one candidate, the party failed to field a candidate and was de-registered. De-registered parties The Natural Law Party of Alberta was de-registered by Elections Alberta in 2001, after they stopped filing financial statements. In 2001 The Natural Law Party did not nominate any candidates. Independent candidates 29 independent candidates ran in the 2001 election. These candidates won a total of 10,528 votes. 10 independents ran in 2004. Standings in the 25th Legislature Standings after the 25th general election Standings at dissolution Timeline March 27, 2004 - Kevin Taft becomes leader of the Alberta Liberals. June 29, 2004 - Gary Masyk crosses the floor from the Progressive Conservatives to the Alberta Alliance. July 13, 2004 - Raj Pannu resigns as leader of the Alberta New Democrats. Brian Mason is appointed interim leader. September 9, 2004 - Alberta Alliance kicked off five-city "I Blame Ralph" tour in Edmonton. Ralph Klein announces Senate Election September 18, 2004 - Brian Mason formally becomes leader of the Alberta New Democrats. October 25, 2004 - At the request of Premier Ralph Klein, Lieutenant-Governor Lois Hole dissolves the legislature and sets the election day for November 22. October 28, 2004 - Premier Klein is harshly criticized by opposition parties and activist groups after he claims that protestors on Alberta's Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) who had heckled him did not look severely disabled. October 31, 2004 - Premier Klein's mother, Florence Gray