Former Alberta Premier Rachel Notley Steps Down as NDP Leader

Rachel Notley, the former premier of Alberta, has announced her resignation as leader of the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP). Notley, who currently serves as the official Opposition leader, stated that a leadership race will be initiated, and she will continue to lead until a successor is chosen. Although she has not decided on her future plans, including whether she will fulfill her term as the legislature member for Edmonton-Strathcona, the riding she has consistently won in five consecutive elections, she did not rule out running again. The NDP caucus members Rakhi Pancholi, David Shepherd, Sarah Hoffman, and Kathleen Ganley have been speculated to be considering potential leadership bids. Notley, however, mentioned that she will not endorse any candidate.

Notley’s decision comes after months of speculation about her political future following the NDP’s defeat in the May 2023 election to Premier Danielle Smith‘s United Conservatives. This marked the second consecutive election loss for the NDP under Notley’s leadership, after toppling the Progressive-Conservative dynasty in 2015 and subsequently being defeated by Jason Kenney’s UCP four years later. Notley assumed the role of party leader in 2014, transforming the NDP into a dominant opposition party by outshining left-centre rivals and positioning it as a genuine alternative to the right-wing UCP.

During her interview, Notley expressed pride in the NDP’s progress during her tenure, emphasizing the party’s commitment to its core values while also establishing connections with Albertans. Notley highlighted the party’s growth in terms of financial resources, stronger candidates, and engagement strategies to understand the needs and aspirations of the people. She denied claims of shifting towards the center of the left-right political spectrum, asserting that the party improved its ability to represent the concerns of Albertans while staying true to its own viewpoint.

Notley also mentioned several significant achievements during her term as the 17th premier of Alberta. These included gaining approval for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, establishing a new cancer hospital in Calgary, reducing child poverty, investing in education and healthcare, phasing out coal-fired electricity, initiating renewable energy projects, and raising Alberta’s minimum wage. Notley emphasized the positive impact of the minimum wage increase to $15 per hour, making Alberta the first jurisdiction in North America to implement such a policy. Despite her accomplishments, Notley acknowledged her polarizing figure and expressed the need for new voices within the party.

As the NDP leader, Notley faced criticism from both ends of the political spectrum. She was labeled as an out-of-touch, spend-happy eco-extremist by the right-wing, while the left-wing accused her of being a pipeline-supporting fossil-fuel advocate. Her government grappled with a challenging economic environment caused by a severe recession, resulting in significant deficits. Notley’s opponents, led by former UCP leader Jason Kenney, used these issues to win the 2019 election by portraying the NDP as irresponsible spenders. Notley, however, defended her government’s actions, stating that being in power enabled them to implement crucial measures to combat poverty and support vulnerable communities during the recession.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on January 16, 2023.