Former Alberta NDP premier Rachel Notley to resign as MLA

Former premier Rachel Notley, a veteran politician of Alberta's underdog NDP, is stepping down as MLA .

Notley, former leader of the Alberta NDP, announced her pending resignation from her seat in the Alberta legislature in a statement Thursday. She will step down as MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona effective Dec. 30.

"I write with mixed feelings to announce that today I will be sending a letter to the Speaker of the Alberta Legislative Assembly, advising of my intent to resign my position," Notley wrote in a statement posted to social media Thursday. 

After leading the party to victory in 2015 and suffering defeat in two subsequent elections, Notley announced in January she would be stepping away from the party's leadership.

She resigned as leader of the Opposition last summer, signalling a leadership race which resulted in former Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi claiming command of the party. 

"I was excited and proud to see our membership swell to over 80,000 members as four worthy contestants sought their votes in June of this year," Notley said in her post Thursday.

Nenshi has said he wants the NDP to win the next provincial election, slated for October 2027, and has called on supporters to redouble their efforts to grow the party. 

"Naheed Nenshi's selection represents a tremendous opportunity for all Albertans seeking practical solutions to the affordability crisis, along with a genuine commitment to fixing our health care so that all Albertans can get the support they need no matter where they live or how much they earn," Notley said in her statement Thursday.

In a statement Thursday, Nenshi described Notley as a "once-in-a-lifetime politician" who should be recognized for bringing the NDP to victory and growing it into the largest opposition in Alberta history. 

Radio-Canada reported on Thursday that sources have confirmed Nenshi intends to run as a candidate in the riding of Edmonton-Strathcona. Nenshi has not yet announced his candidacy for any riding.

Asked about his intention to run in a live Youtube event Thursday evening, Nenshi said he wanted to focus on gratitude to Notley. 

"I don't want to step on Rachel's day, it is her day," he said. 

"At some point, this provincial government will call a byelection in Edmonton-Strathcona," Nenshi said, noting he has said in the past that should a vacancy come up in Calgary or Edmonton, that's something he would look at.

"We have to have conversations with the folks in Edmonton-Strathcona about whether that makes sense."

Notley said it has been an honour to serve her constituents for almost 17 years. She thanked her family, constituents and staff for their continued support throughout her political career and said she would have more to say about her next steps in a few weeks.

In a Zoom call with reporters Thursday afternoon, Notley became emotional while discussing her decision to resign. 

"I can't see myself ever leaving my community. You know, our roots here are so deep and like — excuse me," she said as she choked back tears.

"I love our neighbourhood. I love the community we live in, the friends ... we're just really connected here. So, so I don't see us leaving Edmonton, Strathcona, Alberta."

Premier Danielle Smith needs to call a byelection in Edmonton-Strathcona no later than six months after Notley's resignation.

Nenshi, who doesn't yet have a seat in the Alberta legislature, hasn't announced his own plans.

With Notley at the helm, the NDP claimed power in 2015, disrupting an 80-year streak of right-wing governments in Alberta.

Her rise to power in Alberta came at a tumultuous time in the provincial political landscape. 

The upstart, right-leaning Wildrose party had been plagued by floor-crossings and resignations and the Liberals' numbers had dwindled.

On election night, Notley emerged as the clear winner, enjoying a surge of voter support dubbed the orange wave.

But soon, the sweeping support that turned so many historically conservative ridings orange soured.

Notley's leadership was plagued by a deep recession, low oil prices and deeply unpopular carbon tax that lost her support outside NDP strongholds in Alberta's urban districts. 

In 2019, Jason Kenney and his United Conservative Party took power, returning Alberta to conservative leadership. And that political shift among Alberta voters has held fast.

Kenney's successor, Danielle Smith, won the 2023 election leading the UCP to a majority government.

Orange roots

Notley, who started her career in law, was first elected to the Alberta legislature in 2008 and claimed her role as party leader in October 2014. She was first elected to represent the Edmonton-Strathcona riding in 2008.

She is a politician with deep roots within the NDP.

Her father Grant Notley was the provincial NDP leader from 1968 until he was killed in a plane crash in 1984 at the age of 45.

Her father was first elected to the legislative assembly in 1971 and for years was Alberta's sole NDP MLA.

Notley, a mother of two, lives in Edmonton with her husband. 

During an unrelated news conference Thursday, Smith recognized Notley for her long tenure in the Alberta legislature. 

"She was one of our longest-serving members of the legislative assembly," Smith told reporters.

"When you look at the support that she got in her community during elections, people felt very well represented by her. So I'll look forward to seeing what her next steps are."