Rachel Anne Notley (born April 17, 1964) is a Canadian politician best known for leading the Alberta New Democratic Party and serving as the province's 17th premier from 2015 to 2019. She represents the electoral district of Edmonton‑Strathcona in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. As party leader she led the NDP to a historic majority government in 2015, interrupting four decades of Progressive Conservative governance, and after the 2019 election she returned to the legislature as leader of the official opposition.

Early life and background

Notley grew up in a family active in Alberta politics; her father was a prominent provincial NDP figure. She trained as a lawyer and worked in labour and administrative law before entering electoral politics. Her legal and policy background informed her approach to legislative work and to issues such as workplace rights, public services and regulatory reform.

Electoral history and positions

Notley was first elected to the Alberta legislature in 2008 and subsequently re-elected in 2012, 2015 and 2019. She became leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party in 2014 and led the party to a majority victory in the 2015 provincial election, an outcome that reshaped Alberta's political landscape. During the 2019 campaign the United Conservative Party won a majority, after which Notley served as Leader of the Opposition. For more on the party she leads, see Alberta New Democratic Party.

  • First election to legislature: 2008 (Edmonton‑Strathcona)
  • Party leadership: assumed leadership of the Alberta NDP in 2014
  • Premier of Alberta: 2015–2019, following the NDP's majority win in 2015 (majority result)
  • 2019 election: NDP lost to the United Conservative Party; Notley continued as opposition leader (2019 election) and (Leader of the Opposition)

Policy focus and government initiatives

The Notley government emphasized diversification of Alberta's economy, climate and environmental policy, and reinvestment in public services. Its program included measures intended to address greenhouse gas emissions and to create a policy framework for energy development and environmental regulation. The administration also prioritized health care and education funding and sought to balance short‑term economic pressures with longer‑term planning for the province's resource sector.

Significance and legacy

Notley's electoral success in 2015 marked a rare change in Alberta's long-standing political tradition and brought the province's first NDP government at the provincial level. Her premiership and subsequent work as opposition leader have been widely discussed for their impact on party politics in Alberta, the balance between resource development and climate policy, and the role of progressive politics in a province long dominated by conservative parties. For background on her political roles and public record, visit official records and general profiles at legislative resources (party) and election summaries (election results).

Notley remains a prominent figure in Alberta politics, noted for her legal background, her connection to a family with a multi‑generational role in the provincial NDP, and for guiding the party through both government and opposition phases. Her career illustrates the dynamics of political change in a province shaped by the energy sector, regional identities and shifting voter alignments.