Rona Ambrose (born Ronalee Chapchuk Ambrose, March 15, 1969) is a Canadian politician known for her decade-plus service in the House of Commons and for leading the Conservative Party of Canada on an interim basis. She represented Edmonton—Spruce Grove from 2004 to 2015 and Sturgeon River—Parkland from 2015 until her retirement in 2017. For an official profile see her parliamentary biography.

Political career and roles

Ambrose was first elected to the House of Commons in 2004 and served as a centre of Conservative representation for parts of Alberta. During her time in Ottawa she held a variety of responsibilities in caucus and in government. She worked across policy areas and was a visible presence in national debates until announcing her departure from elected politics in 2017. Records of her parliamentary service are available through the House of Commons.

Interim leadership and opposition role

Following the 2015 federal election and the resignation of the party leader, Ambrose was chosen as interim leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and thus served as Leader of the Opposition from 2015 to 2017. In that capacity she led the party while a permanent leadership contest was organized and acted as the main critic of the governing party. Background on the party appears at Conservative Party and on the office at Leader of the Opposition.

Significance and public profile

Ambrose is notable for being the first woman to head the Conservative Party of Canada, even in an interim capacity, and for maintaining her party's parliamentary duties during a period of transition. Her tenure as interim leader emphasized party unity and readiness for a leadership race, while she continued to represent a western Canadian constituency at the federal level.

Legacy and later steps

After leaving Parliament in 2017, Ambrose's political career was commonly discussed in the context of gender and leadership in Canadian politics, and in analyses of Conservative strategy following electoral change. Commentators have noted her role in stabilizing the party during a leadership transition and in raising the profile of women in national politics.

Notable facts

  • Full name: Ronalee Chapchuk "Rona" Ambrose; born March 15, 1969.
  • Served as an MP from 2004 until 2017 representing Alberta ridings.
  • Served as interim leader of the Conservative Party and as Leader of the Opposition (2015–2017); see the party interim leadership reference here.