Rachel Notley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Rachel Notley
Notley in 2015
17th Premier of Alberta
In office May 24, 2015 – April 30, 2019
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor	Donald Ethell Lois Mitchell
Deputy	Sarah Hoffman
Preceded by	Jim Prentice
Succeeded by	Jason Kenney
Leader of the Opposition in Alberta
In office April 30, 2019 – June 24, 2024
Preceded by	Jason Kenney
Succeeded by	Christina Gray
Leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party
In office October 18, 2014 – June 22, 2024
Preceded by	Brian Mason
Succeeded by	Naheed Nenshi
Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Strathcona
In office March 3, 2008 – December 30, 2024
Preceded by	Raj Pannu
Personal details
Born	Rachel Anne Notley (1964-04-17) April 17, 1964 (age 61) Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Political party	New Democratic
Spouse	Lou Arab ​ (m. 1997)​
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Alberta Osgoode Hall Law School
Profession	Lawyer
Signature

Rachel Anne Notley (born April 17, 1964) is a Canadian lawyer and former politician. She served as the 17th premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019. She was also the leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) from 2014 to 2024. Notley was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Edmonton-Strathcona from 2008 to 2024.

Rachel Notley is the daughter of Grant Notley, who was also a leader of the Alberta NDP. Before she became a politician, she worked as a lawyer. Her work focused on helping workers with their rights and safety.

Notley was first elected as an MLA in 2008. Six years later, in 2014, she became the leader of the Alberta NDP. In the 2015 provincial election, she led her party to a big win. This ended 44 years of rule by another party. In 2019, her government was defeated, and she became the Opposition Leader. She continued in this role until June 2024.

On January 16, 2024, Notley announced she would step down as leader. She was replaced by Naheed Nenshi on June 22, 2024. She also stepped down as an MLA on December 30, 2024. After leaving politics, she returned to working as a labour lawyer.

Early Life and Education

Rachel Notley was born in Edmonton, Alberta, on April 17, 1964. She grew up near the town of Fairview, Alberta. Her parents were Sandra Mary and Grant Notley, who was a well-known politician. Rachel was the first Alberta premier to be born in Edmonton.

Notley was interested in politics from a young age. Her mother took her to anti-war protests when she was a child. She also credits her high school social studies teacher for sparking her interest. She looked up to political figures like Jack Layton.

When Rachel was 20, her father passed away in a plane crash. This was a very difficult time for her family. She later led a memorial for him 30 years after his death.

Notley studied Political Science at the University of Alberta. She then earned a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. While studying law, she was active in student politics.

She is married to Lou Arab, who works for a union. They live in Edmonton with their two children. Notley enjoys cycling, jogging, and skiing.

Community Work and Activism

After law school, Rachel Notley worked as a lawyer helping workers. She represented people in Workers' Compensation cases. She also worked on workplace health and safety issues.

In 1994, Notley moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. There, she worked to improve health and safety for workers. She also helped expand family laws to include same-sex couples. This happened several years before the Canadian government made similar changes.

Notley was involved with "Moms on the Move" in Vancouver. This group supported the rights of children with special needs. She also served on the board of Vancouver Community College.

She returned to Edmonton in 2002. She continued her work in labour relations. She also volunteered to help get sidewalks installed in her community.

Starting Her Political Journey

Rachel Notley as an MLA in 2009

Rachel Notley first got involved in provincial politics in 1991. She helped with the election plans for the Alberta NDP. In 2000, she helped Brian Mason win a seat for the party.

In 2006, she was chosen to be the Alberta NDP candidate for Edmonton-Strathcona. She was elected as an MLA in the 2008 provincial election. She was re-elected in 2012.

On October 18, 2014, Notley became the leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party. She won with 70% of the votes.

The 2015 Election

Notley's first big test as leader was the 2015 Alberta general election. The election was called after the ruling party announced a budget that many people did not like. At first, many thought the ruling party would win again.

However, Rachel Notley gained support by promising to raise taxes for large companies. She also promised to reverse some cuts. A televised debate was a key moment, where Notley was seen as performing the best. The ruling premier also made a comment to Notley that was seen as disrespectful.

By election night, the NDP had become the leading party. They won 54 seats, forming a majority. This was a historic win for the NDP in Alberta.

Premier of Alberta (2015–2019)

Rachel Notley became the Premier of Alberta on May 24, 2015. Her cabinet, which is a group of ministers who help lead the government, was the smallest in the country.

Rachel Notley after being sworn in as the 17th Premier of Alberta alongside her cabinet on the steps of the Alberta Legislature Building

The swearing-in ceremony was a public event. Many people gathered outside the Alberta Legislature Building. There was music, and free food was given out.

New Laws and Policies

The government's first speech outlined their plans. They announced bills to stop companies and unions from donating to political parties. They also planned to increase taxes on large corporations and high-income earners. These changes were part of the NDP's election promises.

Notley's government also created a committee to improve how the government works. This committee included members from all political parties.

Helping Indigenous Communities

On June 22, 2015, Notley apologized to the Indigenous communities in Alberta. She apologized for past governments not dealing with the abuse at residential schools. She promised her government would work to improve living conditions for Indigenous people.

Her government supported a national inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. They also supported the recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee. The 2017 budget included money to improve water systems for First Nations communities. In 2018, the government sold land to the Fort McKay Métis. This was an important step for the Métis community.

Climate Change and Environment

On November 22, 2015, Notley announced Alberta's new climate change plan. This plan included a carbon price starting in 2017. It also set a limit on emissions from the oil sands. The plan aimed to stop using coal-fired electricity by 2030. It also aimed to cut methane emissions in half over 10 years.

Her government paid companies to help them stop using coal sooner. They also budgeted money to clean up thousands of abandoned oil wells. A new large park, the Birch River Wildland Provincial Park, was created. This park protects a huge area of boreal forest.

Public Health and Welfare

The NDP government made changes to public health and welfare services. They started a program to fund affordable daycare services. This program helped many families by making childcare more accessible.

They also provided coverage for an Anti-HIV drug for people at high risk. New laws were proposed to protect LGBTQ rights. This included protecting the privacy of students in gay–straight alliance (GSA) clubs. It also banned gay conversion therapies in Alberta.

In 2019, a new law was passed to help people suffering from poverty. It increased benefits for the elderly and people receiving AISH (Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped).

Economy and Work

Notley in 2018

Alberta's minimum wage was slowly increased from $10.20 an hour in 2015 to $15.00 an hour in 2018.

Notley's government also updated labour laws. These were the first major changes to Alberta's labour laws in 30 years.

In 2018, there was a trade dispute with British Columbia. Alberta stopped importing wine from BC. This was in response to BC limiting oil exports from Alberta.

The government also passed a law to improve consumer protections. In 2019, they agreed to lease oil cars from railway companies. This was to help transport oil.

On December 2, 2018, Notley announced that Alberta would limit oil production. This was to help get a better price for oil. The government rarely uses this power.

Education Initiatives

In 2015, Notley's government froze tuition fees for college and university students. This freeze lasted until 2018. They also increased funding for post-secondary institutions.

In 2016, a program was started to provide nutritious lunch programs for children in need. This was a promise Notley made during her election campaign.

Fort McMurray Wildfire

In 2016, a large wildfire caused great damage in Fort McMurray. Notley visited the area to see the rebuilding efforts. She honored the first responders by naming an overpass 'Responders Way Bridge'.

Threats Against Notley

After becoming Premier, Rachel Notley faced some threats and abuse. Security incidents involving her increased. Many of these threats were linked to a new law about farm safety. This law required insurance for paid farm workers.

The Opposition leader, Brian Jean, spoke out against the abuse. He asked for it to stop and said he would report serious threats to the police.

The 2019 Election

After Notley's win in 2015, two right-leaning parties merged to form the United Conservative Party (UCP). Jason Kenney became their leader.

In the 2019 provincial election, the UCP won a majority of seats. The NDP lost many seats outside of Edmonton. Notley's government was defeated after only one term. She became the Opposition Leader. The NDP caucus, with 24 seats, became the largest opposition in Alberta since 1993.

Opposition Leader (2019–2024)

In December 2019, Notley said she would lead the Alberta NDP into the next election in May 2023. The NDP gained support as the UCP government faced challenges.

In the 2023 election, the NDP increased their number of MLAs from 24 to 38. However, they were still defeated by the UCP, now led by Danielle Smith. The NDP caucus became the largest official opposition in Alberta's history.

On January 16, 2024, Notley announced her plan to step down as leader. She remained leader until a new one was chosen on June 22. Naheed Nenshi became the new leader of the Alberta NDP. Notley also resigned from the legislature on December 30, 2024, and retired from politics.

Election Results

2023 General Election

2019 General Election

2015 General Election

2012 General Election

2008 General Election