31st Alberta Legislature

Last updated
31st Alberta Legislature
Majority parliament
June 8, 2023  present
Coat of arms of Alberta.svg
Parliament leaders
Premier Danielle Smith
October 11, 2022 present
Cabinet Smith ministry
Leader of the
Opposition
Rachel Notley
April 16, 2019 June 22, 2024
Christina Gray
June 23, 2024 July 11, 2025
Naheed Nenshi
July 12, 2025 present
Party caucuses
Government United Conservative Party
Opposition New Democratic Party
Legislative Assembly
31st Alberta Legislature.svg
Seating arrangements of the Legislative Assembly
Speaker of the
Assembly
Nathan Cooper
May 21, 2019 – May 13, 2025
Ric McIver
September 2, 2025 present
Government
House Leader
Joseph Schow
October 24, 2022 present
Opposition
House Leader
Christina Gray
February 8, 2021 present
Members87 MLA seats
Sovereign
Monarch Charles III
September 8, 2022 present
Lieutenant
Governor
Salma Lakhani
August 26, 2020 present
Sessions
1st session
20 June 2023 – present
  30th   32nd

The 31st Alberta Legislative Assembly was constituted after the general election on 29 May 2023. The United Conservative Party (UCP), led by incumbent Premier Danielle Smith, won a majority of seats (49) and formed the government. The New Democrats, led by former Premier Rachel Notley, won the second most seats (38) and formed the official opposition.

Contents

First session

The first session began on 20 June 2023. Jennifer Johnson, who had appeared on the election ballot as a UCP candidate but was disavowed by the party during the campaign after making comments comparing transgender children to faeces, was seated as an independent on the Opposition side. After election of officers of the assembly, including Nathan Cooper's re-election as speaker, the assembly adjourned for the summer. [1]

The session resumed on 30 October with the speech from the throne. Among the bills passed over the ensuing months was an amendment to the Election Act, changing the fixed election date to the third Monday in October instead of the last Monday in May  this bill passed the assembly on 28 May 2024 and received royal assent on 30 May. The assembly adjourned for the summer on 29 May.

On 22 June, Naheed Nenshi was elected leader of the Alberta NDP. Because Nenshi did not have a seat in the assembly, he designated Christina Gray on 23 June to be Opposition leader in place of Rachel Notley. [2]

On 1 July, Shannon Phillips resigned as MLA for Lethbridge-West. [3] Rob Miyashiro of the NDP was elected on 18 December in the resulting byelection. [4]

On 9 October, Johnson returned to the UCP caucus. [5] The first session resumed with its fall sitting starting on 28 October.

On 5 November, Mickey Amery introduced Bill 31, which, among other things, empowered the Electoral Boundary Commission to add two more electoral districts, bringing the total to 89. [6] This bill received royal assent on 5 December. [7]

On 30 December, Notley resigned as MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona. [8]

On 7 March 2025 Scott Sinclair was removed from the UCP caucus because of criticizing the government's budget. [9]

On 25 March 2025, Rod Loyola resigned from the legislature to run in the federal election as the Liberal candidate for the newly formed Edmonton Gateway riding. [10]

On 16 April, Peter Guthrie was expelled from the UCP caucus because he publicly criticized the government in the matter of the dismissal of Alberta Health Services' board of directors and chief executive officer. [11]

On 13 May, the assembly elected Ric McIver as speaker, after Nathan Cooper announced his plan to resign as an MLA at the conclusion of the spring sitting. [12] Cooper resigned as MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills on 22 May. [13]

Three by-elections held on 23 June 2025 returned members from the same parties elected in those ridings in 2023. Nenshi (NDP) won Edmonton-Strathcona, Gurtej Singh Brar (NDP) won Edmonton-Ellerslie, and Tara Sawyer (UCP) won Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills. [14]

Members

[15]

Seating plan

Schmidt Ceci L. Sigurdson Goehring Deol Dach Miyashiro Metz Gray Singh Brar
Singh Boparai Tejada Renaud Irwin Hayter Batten Ganley Kasawski Hoyle Kayande Chapman Eremenko Brar Guthrie
Haji Al-Guneid Arcand-Paul Sabir Hoffman Ip Calahoo Stonehouse Eggen Nenshi Pancholi Ellingson Elmeligi Shepherd Sweet P. Wright Sinclair
McIver
RJ Sigurdson Nicolaides Schulz Williams Glubish LaGrange Horner Schow Smith Ellis Amery Neudorf Loewen Wilson Jean Dreeshen Nixon
Pitt van Dijken Stephan Yao Hunter Long Nally Getson Sawhney Jones Fir Yaseen Turton Rowswell J. Wright
Cooper Cyr Johnson Wiebe Boitchenko McDougall Petrovic Lunty Dyck Armstong-Homeniuk de Jonge Bouchard Singh Lovely Sawyer

Seating plan last updated May 13, 2025. [16]

By-elections

RidingDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCauseRetained
Lethbridge-West 18 December 2024 Shannon Phillips New Democratic Rob Miyashiro New Democratic Resigned for personal reasons.Yes
Edmonton-Strathcona June 23, 2025 Rachel Notley New Democratic Naheed Nenshi New Democratic Retired from politics.Yes
Edmonton-Ellerslie June 23, 2025 Rod Loyola New Democratic Gurtej Singh Brar New Democratic Resigned to run in the 2025 Canadian federal election.Yes
Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills June 23, 2025 Nathan Cooper      United Conservative Party Tara Sawyer United Conservative Party Resigned to become Alberta's representative in Washington, D.C. Yes

Officeholders

Presiding officers

OfficePhotoPartyOfficerRidingSinceUntil
Speaker Nathan Cooper, MLA.jpg UCP Nathan Cooper [17] Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills 21 May 201912 May 2025
Ric McIver 2012-12-08.jpg UCP Ric McIver [18] Calgary-Hays 13 May 2025Present
Deputy Speaker and Chair of Committees Angela Pitt.jpg UCP Angela Pitt [19] Airdrie-East 21 May 2019Present
Deputy Chair of Committees Glenn van Dijken.JPG UCP Glenn van Dijken [20] Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock 20 June 2023Present

Government leadership (United Conservative)

OfficePhotoOfficerRidingSinceUntil
Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith 2014.jpg Danielle Smith Brooks-Medicine Hat 11 October 2022present
Deputy Premier Mike Ellis UCP.jpg Mike Ellis Calgary-West 9 June 2023present
House Leader Joseph Schow Cardston-Siksika 24 October 2022present
Deputy House Leader Mickey Amery Calgary-Cross 24 October 2022present
Dan Williams Peace River 13 July 2023present
Whip Shane Getson 2019 Swearing in.jpg Shane Getson Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland 9 June 202315 May 2025
Grant Hunter.JPG Grant Hunter Taber-Warner 16 May 2025present
Deputy Whip Tany Yao Headshot.jpg Tany Yao Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo 18 October 2023present
Caucus Chair Nathan Neudorf Lethbridge-East June 2021present

[21] [22] [23] [24]

Opposition leadership (New Democratic)

OfficePhotoOfficerRidingSinceUntil
Leader of the Opposition Rachel Notley crop.jpg Rachel Notley Edmonton-Strathcona 16 April 201922 June 2024 [25]
Christina Gray, Minister of Labour.jpg Christina Gray Edmonton-Mill Woods 23 June 202411 July 2025 [2]
Naheed Nenshi PRS Ottawa 2015-1.jpg Naheed Nenshi Edmonton-Strathcona 12 July 2025 [26] present
Deputy Leader Sarah Hoffman 2015 cropped.jpg Sarah Hoffman Edmonton-Glenora 13 May 201927 January 2024
Christina Gray, Minister of Labour.jpg Christina Gray Edmonton-Mill Woods 13 February 202424 June 2024
Rakhi Pancholi 2023.jpg Rakhi Pancholi Edmonton-Whitemud 24 June 2024present
House Leader Christina Gray, Minister of Labour.jpg Christina Gray Edmonton-Mill Woods 8 February 2021present
Deputy House Leader Irfan Sabir 2015.jpg Irfan Sabir Calgary-Bhullar-McCall 20 October 2020present
Heather Sweet 2015.jpg Heather Sweet Edmonton-Manning 27 February 202328 January 2024
David Shepherd in 2019 (48644273601) (cropped).jpg David Shepherd Edmonton-City Centre 11 September 2024present
Whip David Eggen 2015.jpg David Eggen Edmonton-North West 21 May 201911 September 2024
Kathleen Ganley, MLA (cropped).jpg Kathleen Ganley Calgary-Mountain View 11 September 2024present
Deputy Whip Sarah Hoffman 2015 cropped.jpg Sarah Hoffman Edmonton-Glenora 27 June 202327 January 2024
Heather Sweet 2015.jpg Heather Sweet Edmonton-Manning 28 January 202411 September 2024
Janis Irwin MLA.png Janis Irwin Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood 11 September 2024present
Deputy Assistant Whip Samir Kayande 2023.jpg Samir Kayande Calgary-Elbow 27 June 202311 September 2024
Amanda Chapman Calgary-Beddington 11 September 2024present
Caucus Chair Joe Ceci 2015.jpg Joe Ceci Calgary-Buffalo 13 May 201911 September 2024
David Eggen 2015.jpg David Eggen Edmonton-North West 11 September 2024present
Deputy Caucus Chair Peggy Wright Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview 27 June 2023present

[27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37]

Notes

  1. Highwood (First Elected as a Wildrose)
  2. Edmonton-Calder
  3. Fort McMurray-Conklin (First elected as a Wildrose)

References

  1. "'Did a remarkable job': Cooper reelected as Speaker in Alberta legislature". Edmonton. 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
  2. 1 2 "Member Information". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  3. Markusoff, Jason (Jun 10, 2024). "Shannon Phillips targeted climate and parks action. Then she got targeted. The NDPer is now leaving office".
  4. "Lethbridge-West byelection results: NDP claim victory, Rob Miyashiro to become MLA". CBC News . December 18, 2024. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  5. Bellefontaine, Michelle (2024-10-09). "Alberta MLA who compared transgender children to feces in food welcomed into UCP caucus". CBC News. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
  6. "Alberta adding 2 seats to legislature, bringing total to 89 for next election | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
  7. "Assembly Dashboard". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-28.
  8. Snowdon, Wallis (Dec 12, 2024). "Former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley to resign as MLA". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
  9. "Rural Alberta MLA booted from UCP caucus for refusing to support budget | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-09.
  10. "Longtime Alberta NDP MLA running for federal Liberals in Edmonton". CityNews Edmonton . 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-03-27.
  11. "Peter Guthrie booted from UCP after calling out government's health probe process | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2025-04-17.
  12. "Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver resigns, becomes new Speaker of the legislature | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2025-05-14.
  13. "Member Information". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-05-29.
  14. French, Janet (2025-06-23). "Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi heading for legislature after byelection win". CBC News. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  15. "Members of the Legislative Assembly". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  16. "Chamber Seating Plan" (PDF). www.assembly.ab.ca. May 13, 2025. Retrieved 2024-07-19.
  17. "Honourable Nathan Cooper". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  18. "Honourable Ric McIver". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  19. "Ms Angela Pitt". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  20. "Mr. Glenn van Dijken". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  21. "Premier Smith appoints new Alberta cabinet with many familiar faces in different portfolios". Edmonton. 2023-06-09. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  22. "Honourable Dan Williams, ECA". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  23. "Mr. Tany Yao". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  24. Herald (July 20, 2021). "Neudorf takes on challenge as UCP caucus chair". Lethbridge Herald. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  25. "Member Information". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  26. "Member Information". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-21.
  27. Heidenreich, Phil (June 27, 2023). "NDP announces shadow cabinet for largest Official Opposition in Alberta history". Global News. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  28. Bellefontaine, Michelle (May 13, 2019). "'Challenging and exciting, fun and frustrating': NDP MLAs look ahead to next 4 years". CBC News. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
  29. @shoffmanAB (January 28, 2024). "Following today's Alberta NDP meeting to finalize our leadership contest, I have resigned my positions as Deputy Leader, Assistant Whip, and Municipal Affairs Critic for Edmonton and Calgary, effective immediately. I am filled with hope and optimism for the future of our party!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  30. Staff, rdnewsNOW. "Alberta NDP announces changes to caucus leadership team and critic roles". EverythingGP. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  31. "Alberta NDP announce interim changes to caucus". Lethbridge News Now. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  32. "Member Information". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2024-03-12.
  33. Dryden, Joel (June 24, 2024). "New Alberta NDP leader Nenshi outlines priorities as party names Opposition leader". CBC News. Retrieved 2024-06-24.
  34. Black, Matthew (11 September 2024). "Alberta NDP unveils smaller shadow cabinet, new advisory team including Rachel Notley". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
  35. Media, Pattison. "Alberta NDP Caucus shares leadership team and shadow minister shuffling". Lethbridge News Now. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  36. "Your MLAs". www.albertandpcaucus.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
  37. "Member Information Mr. Naheed K. Nenshi". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2025-07-19.