Premier of Alberta

Premier of Alberta
source
Post	Premier of Alberta
Incumbent	Danielle Smith
Incumbentsince	October 11, 2022
Style	The Honourable
Reports to	Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
Seat	Edmonton
Appointer	Lieutenant Governor of Alberta
Termlength	At Her Majesty's pleasure
Formation	September 1, 1905
First	Alexander Cameron Rutherford

Premier of Alberta The Premier of Alberta is the head of the executive branch of the province of Alberta and the leader of the political party commanding confidence in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The premier directs provincial policy, represents Alberta in interprovincial and federal-provincial negotiations such as the Canadian Confederation discussions, and acts as the chief minister in relations with the Prime Minister of Canada and other provincial and territorial premiers. The office traces its origins to Alberta's creation as a province in 1905 under the Alberta Act.

Role and powers

The premier coordinates the work of the Executive Council of Alberta, appoints ministers to portfolios like Health Care in Alberta, Education in Alberta, and Energy in Alberta, and chairs cabinet meetings alongside figures from institutions such as the University of Alberta and the Alberta Health Services board. Within constitutional conventions derived from the Westminster system, the premier advises the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta on appointments, dissolutions of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and the presentation of throne speeches modelled on practices at Parliament of Canada. The office interfaces with federal structures including the Privy Council of the United Kingdom tradition and the legacy of the Constitution Act, 1867 insofar as provincial-federal division of powers is concerned.

History

Since the inaugural ministry of Alexander Cameron Rutherford, premiers such as Herbert Greenfield, John E. Brownlee, William Aberhart, Ernest Manning, Peter Lougheed, Ralph Klein, Ed Stelmach, Alison Redford, Jim Prentice, Rachel Notley, and Jason Kenney have shaped Alberta's political landscape. The office has presided over pivotal events like the Great Depression in Canada, the expansion of the Alberta oil sands, negotiations over the National Energy Program, and disputes in the Canada–United States Energy Trade sphere. Political realignments including the rise of the Social Credit Party of Alberta, the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta dominance, the emergence of the Alberta New Democratic Party, and the creation of the United Conservative Party (Alberta) have each redefined the premier's mandate and electoral strategies.

Appointment and tenure

The lieutenant governor appoints as premier the leader who commands the confidence of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, typically the leader of the party holding the most seats after a provincial election such as those held in 2019 Alberta general election and 2015 Alberta general election. Premiers may be replaced between elections following leadership reviews in parties like the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta or United Conservative Party (Alberta) or by losing a confidence motion in the assembly tied to figures such as Daniel Patrick Kelly or during crises comparable to the 1992 Progressive Conservative leadership convention. Tenure is not fixed and can end by resignation, defeat in a general election, loss of assembly confidence, or dismissal under extraordinary circumstances by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta.

Responsibilities and functions

The premier sets legislative priorities reflected in budget presentations by the Treasury Board of Alberta and fiscal plans debated within committees including the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. Responsibilities encompass leadership of provincial responses to natural disasters involving agencies like the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, negotiation of intergovernmental accords such as the Provincial–Territorial Premiers' Conference, and stewardship over sectors including Alberta Health Services, Alberta Education, and resource regulation involving the Alberta Energy Regulator. The premier also represents Alberta at forums like the Council of the Federation and in bilateral talks with the Government of Canada.

Relationship with the Legislature and Lieutenant Governor

The premier maintains confidence relations with the Legislative Assembly of Alberta through supply and confidence votes and controls cabinet composition accountable to assembly committees and speakers like the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Constitutional conventions require the premier to advise the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta on prorogation, dissolution, and royal assent matters shaped by precedence from events such as the King–Byng Affair at the federal level. Tensions have arisen historically between premiers and lieutenant governors in issues of appointments and reserve powers, reflecting broader debates evident in cases involving the Constitution Act, 1982 and federal–provincial disputes.

List of premiers

A chronological list includes premiers from Alexander Cameron Rutherford (1905–1910) through Herbert Greenfield, Arthur Lewis Sifton, Charles Stewart, and long-serving figures like Ernest Manning (1943–1968), reformist leaders such as Peter Lougheed (1971–1985), and modern premiers including Ralph Klein, Ed Stelmach, Alison Redford, Jim Prentice, Rachel Notley, Jason Kenney, and the incumbent Danielle Smith. The office has alternated among parties including the Liberal Party of Alberta (pre-1926), United Farmers of Alberta, Social Credit Party of Alberta, Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, Alberta New Democratic Party, and United Conservative Party (Alberta).

Political significance and controversies

Premiers have been central to debates over resource royalties, pipelines such as Trans Mountain Pipeline, fiscal policy during downturns like the 2014 oil price crash, and constitutional disputes involving equalization and transfer payments with parties such as the Federal New Democratic Party and the Conservative Party of Canada. Controversies have included scandals, leadership contests, and policy reversals exemplified by episodes involving Ralph Klein's austerity measures, legal challenges in the Courts of Alberta, and ethics probes affecting administrations like those of Alison Redford and Jim Prentice. The premier's decisions influence relations with Indigenous governments such as Métis Nation of Alberta and First Nations in Alberta, environmental groups including Pembina Institute, and business organizations like the Alberta Chamber of Commerce.

Category:Politics of Alberta