The news of Calgary-Northwest MLA Sandra Jansen’s decision to leave the PC Party and join the ruling NDP is just settling with her constituents and many say they are not happy with the idea.

The decision to cross the floor surprised just about everyone in the party as Jansen went from seeking the leadership of the PCs to sitting in opposition of them.

Jansen says the decision came from a fateful Tory convention in Red Deer earlier this month.

During the meeting, Jansen said she felt bullied and harassed by the members of her own party. The incident left such a deep impression on her that she didn’t feel welcome anymore.

When she went public with the allegations and announced her decision to leave the race, the NDP were the first to reach out to her and began the process of helping her join the fold.

“I think it’s telling in the first few hours. I had probably twelve messages of outreach from the NDP caucus before I heard a single one from my own caucus, I think that really says a lot,” she said. “I want to be part of a group of people who aspire to something better and I think that I haven’t felt that in a long time and I want that going forward,” she said during a news conference on Thursday.

Jansen announced her decision to join the NDP on Thursday afternoon and says that party is much more likely to pursue the policies she agrees with.

“The best traditions, as the Premier mentioned, of the Peter Lougheed legacy; traditions for a very long time that I have believed in, are being pursued by Premier Notley. They are being pushed out by a party that I used to call my home. To see that legacy being kicked to the curb by extremists who are taking over the PC Party has been heartbreaking to me. The tone that has been brought into Alberta politics belongs in our past and so many people I know believe the same thing.”

Notley says Jansen will need to earn her place and her role in the government, but believes she will be an important part of the caucus.

“She will be a very valuable member of our caucus, I know that already, our caucus is very excited about it, our cabinet is very excited about it. We look forward to having Sandra in Calgary to expand our relationships and open the door to even more,” Notley said.

So far, Jansen has been criticized for her decision to quit the PCs.

"I'm not very happy about it," said one woman. "I voted for her because she was with the other party. I'm certainly not voting NDP, I will tell you that much."

Many voters in her riding say she should have consulted with them before making such a big decision.

Others say that maybe Jansen's departure is a sign of bigger issues facing the party.

"I think it shows there are some problems, more problems than they think on the Conservative side and I think she finally said, 'well, I've had enough' and she went to a party that's going to appreciate her."