The Legislative Assembly of Alberta (French: Assemblée législative de l'Alberta) is the deliberative assembly of the province of Alberta, Canada. It sits in the Alberta Legislature Building in Edmonton. Since 2012 the Legislative Assembly has had 87 members, elected first past the post from single-member electoral districts.[1] Bills passed by the Legislative Assembly are given royal assent by the lieutenant governor of Alberta, as the viceregal representative of the King of Canada.[2] The Legislative Assembly and the Lieutenant Governor together make up the unicameral Alberta Legislature.
Legislative Assembly of Alberta | |
|---|---|
| 31st Alberta Legislature | |
 | |
| Type | |
| Type | |
| History | |
| Founded | September 9, 1905 |
| Preceded by | North-West Legislative Assembly |
| Leadership | |
Government House Leader | |
Opposition House Leader | |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 87 |
 | |
Political groups | |
| Elections | |
Last election | May 29, 2023 |
Next election | On or before October 18, 2027 |
| Meeting place | |
 | |
| Alberta Legislature Building, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | |
| Website | |
| assembly | |
The maximum period between general elections of the assembly, as set by Section 4 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is five years, which is further reinforced in Alberta's Legislative Assembly Act.[3] Convention dictates the premier controls the date of election and usually selects a date in the fourth or fifth year after the preceding election. Amendments to Alberta's Elections Act introduced in 2021 fixed the date of election to between the last Monday in May in the fourth calendar year following the preceding election.[4] Alberta has never had a minority government and an election as a result of a vote of no confidence has never occurred.
To be a candidate for election to the assembly, a person must be a Canadian citizen older than 18 who has lived in Alberta for at least six months before the election and has registered with Elections Alberta under the Election Finances and Contributions Disclosure Act. Senators, senators-in-waiting, members of the House of Commons, and criminal inmates are ineligible.[5]
The 30th Alberta Legislature was dissolved on May 1, 2023. The members-elect of the 31st Alberta Legislature were elected on May 29.
History
editThe first session of the first Legislature of Alberta opened on March 15, 1906, in the Thistle Rink, Edmonton, north of Jasper Avenue. After the speech from the throne, the assembly held its sessions in the McKay Avenue School. In this school Alberta MLAs chose the provincial capital,[6] Edmonton, and the future site for the Alberta Legislature Building: the bank of the North Saskatchewan River. Allan Merrick Jeffers,[7] a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design was the architect who was chosen to build the assembly building. In September 1912 Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, Governor General of Canada, declared the building officially open.[8][9][10]
Louise McKinney and Roberta MacAdams were the first women elected to the assembly, in the 1917 election. They were also the first women in any legislature of the British Empire.
Current members
editThe members-elect of the 31st Alberta Legislature were elected in the 31st Alberta general election held on May 29, 2023. Bold indicates cabinet members, and party leaders are italicized.
Standings during 31st Assembly
editThe 31st Alberta Legislative Assembly was constituted after the general election on May 29, 2023. The United Conservative Party, led by incumbent Premier Danielle Smith, formed the government with a reduced majority. The New Democrats, led by former Premier Rachel Notley, won the second most seats and formed the official opposition.[12]
| Affiliation | Members | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 general election | Current | ||
| United Conservative | 49 | 49 | |
| New Democratic | 38 | 37 | |
| Independent | 0 | 0 | |
| Total seats | 87 | ||
Seating plan
edit- Party leaders are italicized. Bold indicates cabinet minister.
Notes
edit- ^ Absent from Legislature during the 2019–2023 term
- ^ Absent from Legislature during 2008–2012 term
- ^ Absent from Legislature during 2018–2022 before returning in 2022 by-election
- ^ Absent from Legislature during 2015–2022 before returning in 2022 by-election
References
edit- ^ "Legislative Assembly of Alberta". www.assembly.ab.ca.
- ^ The Alberta Act, 4-5 Edw. VII [1905], c. 3 (Canada), s. 12 .
- ^ Legislative Assembly Act, RSA 2000, c. L-9, s. 3(1)
- ^ Election Act, RSA 2000, c. E-1, s. 38.1(2)
- ^ Election Act, RSA 2000, c. E-1, s. 56
- ^ "History of the building". www.alberta.ca. 29 February 2024.
- ^ "McDougall Centre". www.alberta.ca. 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Citizens Guide" (PDF). www.assembly.ab.ca. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-10-14.
- ^ "Jeffers, Allan Merrick - Alberta On Record". albertaonrecord.ca.
- ^ "Alberta Legislature". Alberta Legislature - Explore Edmonton.
- ^ "Legislative Assembly of Alberta". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ "Danielle Smith's UCP holds onto power in Alberta". Edmonton. 2023-05-29. Retrieved 2023-11-06.
- ^ "Chamber Seating Plan". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2024-11-01.