Rachel Notley | |
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17th Premier of Alberta | |
In office May 24, 2015 – April 30, 2019 | |
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Lieutenant Governor | |
Deputy | Sarah Hoffman |
Preceded by | Jim Prentice |
Succeeded by | Jason Kenney |
Leader of the Opposition in Alberta | |
In office April 30, 2019 – June 24, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Jason Kenney |
Succeeded by | Christina Gray |
Leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party | |
In office October 18, 2014 – June 22, 2024 | |
Preceded by | Brian Mason |
Succeeded by | Naheed Nenshi |
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Strathcona | |
Assumed office March 3, 2008 | |
Preceded by | Raj Pannu |
Personal details | |
Born | Rachel Anne Notley April 17, 1964 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
Political party | New Democratic |
Spouse | Lou Arab[1] |
Alma mater | University of Alberta Osgoode Hall Law School |
Profession | Lawyer |
Signature | |
Rachel Anne Notley MLA ECA (born April 17, 1964) is a Canadian politician who was the 17th premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019. She sits as the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Edmonton-Strathcona. She was the longest serving member of the legislature by consecutive time in office and leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) from October 18, 2014 to June 22, 2024.
The daughter of former Alberta NDP leader Grant Notley, she was a lawyer before entering politics; she focused on labour law, with a specialty in workers' compensation advocacy and workplace health and safety issues.
Notley was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2008 provincial election, succeeding former NDP leader Raj Pannu. Six years later on October 18, 2014, Notley won the Alberta New Democratic Party leadership election on the first ballot with 70% of the vote[2] and went on to lead the party to a majority victory in the 2015 provincial election, ending 44 years of rule by the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta.[3] In the 2019 provincial election, the NDP government was defeated by the United Conservative Party, making Notley the Opposition leader. In the 2023 provincial election, the NDP made large gains but failed to form government, with Notley continuing as Opposition leader.
On January 16, 2024, Notley announced her plans to step down as leader of the Alberta NDP, but she would remain leader until a successor was elected on June 22. On June 22, 2024 Notley was succeeded as leader of the Alberta NDP by Naheed Nenshi, and was succeeded as Leader of the Opposition by Christina Gray on June 24, 2024.[4]