31st Alberta Legislature explained

Jurisdiction:AB
#:31st
Status:active
Type:Majority
Term-Begin:8 June 2023
Sc:Nathan Cooper
Sc2:Ric McIver
Scterm:May 21, 2019 – May 13, 2025
Pm:Danielle Smith
Pm-Begin:2022-10-11
Lo:Rachel Notley
Lo-Begin:2019-04-16
Lo-End:2024-06-22
Lo2:Christina Gray
Lo-Begin2:2024-06-23
Lo-End2:2025-07-11
Lo3:Naheed Nenshi
Lo-Begin3:2025-07-12
Ghl:Joseph Schow
Ghl-Begin:2022-10-24
Ohl:Christina Gray
Ohl-Begin:2021-02-08
Party:United Conservative Party
Party2:New Democratic Party
Sessionbegin:20 June 2023
Sessionend:22 October 2025
Sessionbegin2:23 October 2025
Sessionend2:present
Ministry:Smith ministry
Monarch-Begin:2022-09-08
Viceroy:Salma Lakhani
Viceroy-Begin:2020-08-26
Members:87
Lastparl:30th
Nextparl:32nd
Houseimage:31st Alberta Legislature.svg

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.

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] The assembly adjourned for the summer on 14 May, and 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]

The first session was prorogued on 22 October 2025.

Second session

The second session opened with the speech from the throne on 23 October 2025.[15] The government introduced Bill 2, the Back to School Act, on 27 October, and through fast-tracking of assembly procedures, the bill was passed on 28 October. This act, which uses the notwithstanding clause to override fundamental freedoms, legal rights, and equality rights, ended the teachers' strike that had begun on 6 October.[16]

On 9 December 2025, Peter Guthrie was announced as leader of the Alberta Party, and became the party's first representative in the Legislature since the 2019 Alberta general election.[17] Scott Sinclair remained an independent,[18] despite having jointly announced in with Guthrie in July 2025 that the two would be joining the Alberta Party and rebrand to the Progressive Conservatives.[19] In November 2025, the United Conservative Party filed a lawsuit alleging conspiracy by Guthrie and Sinclair for their attempted use of the Progressive Conservative name.[20] In December 2025, the government passed Bill 14, the Justice Statutes Amendment Act, 2025, which banned new or rebranding political parties from adopting names which resemble the name or abbreviation of another registered party or predecessor parties, explicitly including the word "conservative" among 11 others.[21] The party officially changed its name to the Progressive Tory Party of Alberta on December 18, 2025.

Members

[22]

Seating plan

Seating plan last updated December 9, 2025.[23]

By-elections

RidingDateIncumbentPartyWinnerPartyCauseRetained
Lethbridge-West18 December 2024Shannon PhillipsNew DemocraticRob MiyashiroNew DemocraticResigned for personal reasons.Yes
Edmonton-StrathconaJune 23, 2025Rachel NotleyNew DemocraticNaheed NenshiNew DemocraticRetired from politics.Yes
Edmonton-EllerslieJune 23, 2025Rod LoyolaNew DemocraticGurtej Singh BrarNew DemocraticResigned to run in the 2025 Canadian federal election.Yes
Olds-Didsbury-Three HillsJune 23, 2025Nathan Cooper    United Conservative PartyTara SawyerUnited Conservative PartyResigned to become Alberta's representative in Washington, D.C.Yes

Officeholders

Presiding officers

!Office!Photo!Party!Officer!Riding!Since!Until
SpeakerUCPNathan Cooper[24] Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills21 May 201912 May 2025
UCPRic McIver[25] Calgary-Hays13 May 2025Present
Deputy Speaker and Chair of CommitteesUCPAngela Pitt[26] Airdrie-East21 May 2019Present
Deputy Chair of CommitteesUCPGlenn van Dijken[27] Athabasca-Barrhead-Westlock20 June 2023Present

Government leadership (United Conservative)

!Office!Photo!Officer!Riding!Since!Until
Premier of AlbertaDanielle SmithBrooks-Medicine Hat11 October 2022present
Deputy PremierMike EllisCalgary-West9 June 2023present
House LeaderJoseph SchowCardston-Siksika24 October 2022present
Deputy House LeaderMickey AmeryCalgary-Cross24 October 2022present
Dan WilliamsPeace River13 July 2023present
Chief Government WhipShane GetsonLac Ste. Anne-Parkland9 June 202315 May 2025
Grant HunterTaber-Warner16 May 20252 January 2025[28]
Justin WrightCypress-Medicine Hat2 January 2025[29] [30] present
Deputy Government WhipTany YaoFort McMurray-Wood Buffalo18 October 2023[31] present
Caucus ChairNathan NeudorfLethbridge-EastJune 2021present
[32] [33] [34]

Opposition leadership (New Democratic)

!Office!Photo!Officer!Riding!Since!Until
Leader of the OppositionRachel Notley16 April 201922 June 2024[35]
Christina GrayEdmonton-Mill Woods23 June 202411 July 2025
Naheed NenshiEdmonton-Strathcona12 July 2025[36] present
Deputy LeaderSarah HoffmanEdmonton-Glenora13 May 201927 January 2024
Christina GrayEdmonton-Mill Woods13 February 202424 June 2024
Rakhi PancholiEdmonton-Whitemud24 June 2024present
House LeaderChristina GrayEdmonton-Mill Woods8 February 2021present
Deputy House LeaderIrfan SabirCalgary-Bhullar-McCall20 October 2020present
Heather SweetEdmonton-Manning27 February 202328 January 2024
David ShepherdEdmonton-City Centre11 September 2024present
WhipDavid EggenEdmonton-North West21 May 201911 September 2024
Kathleen GanleyCalgary-Mountain View11 September 2024present
Deputy WhipSarah HoffmanEdmonton-Glenora27 June 202327 January 2024
Heather SweetEdmonton-Manning28 January 202411 September 2024
Janis IrwinEdmonton-Highlands-Norwood11 September 2024present
Deputy Assistant WhipSamir KayandeCalgary-Elbow27 June 202311 September 2024
Amanda ChapmanCalgary-Beddington11 September 2024present
Caucus ChairJoe CeciCalgary-Buffalo13 May 201911 September 2024
David EggenEdmonton-North West11 September 2024present
Deputy Caucus ChairPeggy WrightEdmonton-Beverly-Clareview27 June 2023present
[37] [38] [39] [40] [41] [42] [43] [44] [45] [46] [47]

Notes

  1. Web site: 2023-06-20 . 'Did a remarkable job': Cooper reelected as Speaker in Alberta legislature . 2024-09-13 . Edmonton . en.
  2. Web site: Member Information . 2025-07-21 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  3. News: Markusoff . Jason . Jun 10, 2024 . Shannon Phillips targeted climate and parks action. Then she got targeted. The NDPer is now leaving office .
  4. Web site: December 18, 2024 . Lethbridge-West byelection results: NDP claim victory, Rob Miyashiro to become MLA . December 20, 2024 . CBC News.
  5. News: Bellefontaine . Michelle . 2024-10-09 . Alberta MLA who compared transgender children to feces in food welcomed into UCP caucus . 2024-10-10 . CBC News.
  6. Web site: Alberta adding 2 seats to legislature, bringing total to 89 for next election Globalnews.ca . 2025-03-28 . Global News . en-CA.
  7. Web site: Assembly Dashboard . 2025-03-28 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  8. News: Snowdon . Wallis . Dec 12, 2024 . Former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley to resign as MLA . 2025-01-01 . CBC News.
  9. Web site: Rural Alberta MLA booted from UCP caucus for refusing to support budget Globalnews.ca . 2025-03-09 . globalnews.ca . en-CA.
  10. Web site: 2025-03-26 . Longtime Alberta NDP MLA running for federal Liberals in Edmonton . 2025-03-27 . . en.
  11. Web site: Peter Guthrie booted from UCP after calling out government's health probe process Globalnews.ca . 2025-04-17 . Global News . en-CA.
  12. Web site: Alberta cabinet minister Ric McIver resigns, becomes new Speaker of the legislature Globalnews.ca . 2025-05-14 . Global News . en-US.
  13. Web site: Member Information . 2025-05-29 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  14. News: French . Janet . 2025-06-23 . Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi heading for legislature after byelection win . 2025-06-25 . CBC News.
  15. News: 2025-10-23 . Alberta throne speech pledges new pipelines and a boost for artificial intelligence . 2025-10-24.
  16. News: 2025-10-28 . Striking Alberta teachers forced back to work by fast-tracked legislation, notwithstanding clause . 2025-10-29 . CBC News.
  17. Web site: Kavanagh . Hannah . 2025-12-09 . Independent MLA Peter Guthrie assumes Alberta Party leadership . 2025-12-12 . CTVNews . en.
  18. Web site: Mr. Scott Sinclair MLA Information . 2025-12-12 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  19. News: Markusoff . Jason . 23 July 2025 . Ex-UCP MLAs to join, rebrand Alberta Party instead of rebooting Progressive Conservatives from scratch . 12 December 2025 . CBC.
  20. Web site: Dryden . Joel . 17 November 2025 . UCP suing 2 of its former MLAs as skirmish over Progressive Conservative brand continues . 11 December 2025 . CBC.
  21. Web site: Lampow . Gerry . 2025-12-05 . Alberta’s Bill 14 could ban conservative from party names, blocking Progressive Conservative revival . 2025-12-12 . My Lloydminster Now . en-CA.
  22. Web site: Members of the Legislative Assembly . 2023-11-06 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  23. Web site: December 9, 2025 . Chamber Seating Plan . 2025-12-12 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  24. Web site: Honourable Nathan Cooper . 2025-07-04 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  25. Web site: Honourable Ric McIver . 2025-07-04 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  26. Web site: Ms Angela Pitt . 2023-11-06 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  27. Web site: Mr. Glenn van Dijken . 2023-11-06 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  28. Web site: Member Information . 2026-01-03 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  29. Web site: medicinehatnews . 2026-01-02 . Schulz resigns, Wright named party whip and Hunter takes over environment . 2026-01-04 . Medicine Hat News.
  30. Web site: Member Information . 2026-01-04 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  31. Web site: Mr. Tany Yao . 2023-11-06 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  32. Web site: 2023-06-09 . Premier Smith appoints new Alberta cabinet with many familiar faces in different portfolios . 2023-11-06 . Edmonton . en.
  33. Web site: Honourable Dan Williams, ECA . 2023-11-06 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  34. News: Herald . July 20, 2021 . Neudorf takes on challenge as UCP caucus chair . Lethbridge Herald . 2023-11-06.
  35. Web site: Member Information . 2025-07-21 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  36. Web site: Member Information . 2025-07-21 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  37. Web site: Heidenreich . Phil . June 27, 2023 . NDP announces shadow cabinet for largest Official Opposition in Alberta history . 2023-11-06 . Global News . en-US.
  38. News: Bellefontaine . Michelle . May 13, 2019 . 'Challenging and exciting, fun and frustrating': NDP MLAs look ahead to next 4 years . CBC News . 2023-11-06.
  39. shoffmanAB . 1751401907929972993 . 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!.
  40. Web site: Staff . rdnewsNOW . Alberta NDP announces changes to caucus leadership team and critic roles . 2024-03-12 . EverythingGP . en.
  41. Web site: Alberta NDP announce interim changes to caucus . 2024-03-12 . Lethbridge News Now . en.
  42. Web site: Member Information . 2024-03-12 . www.assembly.ab.ca.
  43. News: Dryden . Joel . June 24, 2024 . New Alberta NDP leader Nenshi outlines priorities as party names Opposition leader . 2024-06-24 . CBC News.
  44. News: Black . Matthew . 11 September 2024 . Alberta NDP unveils smaller shadow cabinet, new advisory team including Rachel Notley . 1 November 2024 . Edmonton Journal.
  45. Web site: Media . Pattison . Alberta NDP Caucus shares leadership team and shadow minister shuffling . 2024-11-01 . Lethbridge News Now . en.
  46. Web site: Your MLAs . 2024-11-01 . www.albertandpcaucus.ca.
  47. Web site: Member Information Mr. Naheed K. Nenshi . 2025-07-19 . www.assembly.ab.ca.