Serving as Premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019, the Honourable Rachel Notley is best known for leading her party from four seats and fourth place to 54 seats and a majority government —ending 44 years of Conservative government. While Premier, Notley introduced Alberta’s first ever meaningful plan to combat climate change and fought for greater equity and diversity throughout the province. She shares lessons learned from leading progressive change in conservative environments.
A lawyer by profession, Notley was first elected in 2008 as one of only two NDP Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Alberta. She won the leadership of her party in October 2014 and made history in 2015 when, under her leadership, the NDP party won 54 MLAs and formed the first NDP government in the historically Conservative province.
Throughout her term, Notley cut child poverty in half and made significant investments in healthcare, infrastructure, and education, including the building of the Calgary Cancer Centre, the Calgary Green Line, the Edmonton Valley Line, and 244 schools across the province. Notley also laid the foundation for diversifying Alberta’s economy and introduced the Climate Leadership Plan, a strategy to combat climate change that included a consumer carbon tax. While debate about the success of that effort continues, it did lead to the single biggest emissions reduction in Canadian history.
In 2019, the NDP lost the election, but Notley stayed on, working to rebuild and strengthen the opposition caucus. She served as Leader of His Majesty’s Official Opposition from 2019 until her resignation in 2024. Her legacy lies in establishing a competitive two-party system where the growing number of progressive Albertans can now have a meaningful political voice.
Prior to entering politics, Notley practiced labour law and worked as a political staffer for the NDP in both Alberta and British Columbia. She received a degree in political science from the University of Alberta and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.