List of Alberta premiers - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The list of premiers of Alberta consists of all fourteen leaders of government

Head of government

Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...

of the Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

province

Provinces and territories of Canada

The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...

of Alberta

Alberta

Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...

since it was created in 1905. Alberta uses a unicameral Westminster-style

Westminster System

The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....

parliamentary government, in which the premier is the leader of the party that controls the most seats in the Legislative Assembly

Legislative Assembly of Alberta

The Legislative Assembly of Alberta is one of two components of the Legislature of Alberta, the other being the Queen, represented by the Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta. The Alberta legislature meets in the Alberta Legislature Building in the provincial capital, Edmonton...

. The premier is Alberta's head of government

Head of government

, while the Queen of Canada is its head of state

Head of State

A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...

and is represented by the Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

The Lieutenant Governor of Alberta is the viceregal representative in Alberta of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the nine other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the United...

. The premier picks a cabinet from the elected members to form the Executive Council of Alberta

Executive Council of Alberta

The Executive Council of Alberta is the cabinet of that Canadian province.Almost always made up of members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada while being smaller in size...

, and presides over that body.

Members are first elected to the legislature during general elections. General elections must be conducted every five years from the date of the last election, but the premier may ask for early dissolution of the legislative assembly. An election may also happen if the governing party loses the confidence of the legislature, by the defeat of a supply bill or tabling of a confidence motion.

A leader of a party is decided upon by an internal constitution unique to each party that comprises a framework to elect or appoint a leader. The leader must then win a seat in a by-election or general election. If a leader of a governing party fails to win a seat, he or she must sit in the legislature gallery, with the public until a new leader is decided upon or by-election becomes available. While sitting in the gallery a premier can not exercise any legislative powers.

Prior to 1905, Alberta was part of the North-West Territories and was governed by the Lieutenant-Governors of the Northwest Territories until 1897, and the Premier of the Northwest Territories

Premier of the Northwest Territories

The Premier of the Northwest Territories is the first minister for the Northwest Territories,Canada. He or she is the territory's head of government and de facto chief executive, although the powers of the office are considerably less than those of a provincial premier.Unlike provincial premiers,...

from 1897 to 1905. Since 1905, Alberta has had four political party dynasties.

Liberal Party 1905–1921

The Liberal party formed the government in 1905 after Prime Minister Wilfrid Laurier

Wilfrid Laurier

Sir Wilfrid Laurier, GCMG, PC, KC, baptized Henri-Charles-Wilfrid Laurier was the seventh Prime Minister of Canada from 11 July 1896 to 6 October 1911....

appointed Alexander Rutherford

Alexander Cameron Rutherford

Alexander Cameron Rutherford was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first Premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Ontario, he studied and practised law in Ottawa before moving with his family to the Northwest Territories in 1895...

as interim premier. The interim government would gain a massive majority on what was generally claimed as gerrymandered electoral boundaries in the 1905 Alberta election

Alberta general election, 1905

The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories...

. Rutherford emerged from the March 1909 election leading another formidable majority, that clearly reflected the broad popular support he and his government enjoyed. He would resign as premier 14 months later, in May 1910, after his government was implicated in the Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal

Alberta and Great Waterways Railway scandal

The Alberta and Great Waterways Railway Scandal was a political scandal in Alberta, Canada in 1910. It resulted in the resignation of the provincial government of Alexander Cameron Rutherford over allegations of conflict of interest in the government's involvement in the financing of the Alberta...

.

Arthur Sifton would replace Rutherford as premier. Shortly before the 1913 election

Alberta general election, 1913

The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...

Sifton's Liberals jammed through a controversial bill greatly expanding the size of the legislative assembly. The bill was once again said to gerrymander boundaries in Liberals favor. The press and opposition would term his reign as premier "Siftonism" implying that his reign was a disease on Alberta. Sifton would only last one term as premier as he left to pursue a career in federal politics.

Charles Stewart

Charles Stewart (Canadian politician)

Charles Stewart, PC was a Canadian politician who served as the third Premier of Alberta from 1917 until 1921. Born in Strabane, Ontario, in Wentworth County, Stewart was a farmer who moved west to Alberta after his farm was destroyed by a storm...

replaced Sifton and held the Liberal

Alberta Liberal Party

The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time...

government through the lackluster 1917 election

Alberta general election, 1917

The Alberta general election of 1917 was the fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, held on 7 June 1917 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....

which a large portion of seats were held by acclamation. The opposition was the strongest ever. The Conservatives which formed the official opposition with 19 seats thought they had the upper hand on the waning Liberal government.
Both would be surprised by the United Farmers who routed the Liberals and Conservatives in rural areas to form the government in the 1921 election

Alberta general election, 1921

The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....

United Farmers 1921–1935

Alberta's second dynasty was the United Farmers of Alberta

United Farmers of Alberta

The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary...

who rose from a minor party known as the Alberta Non-Partisan League

Alberta Non-Partisan League

The Alberta Non-Partisan League was a minor provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. The league changed its name to the Non-Partisan Political League of Canada: Alberta Branch in 1917 as it prepared to move into federal politics...

, formed in 1916. Henry Wise Wood

Henry Wise Wood

Henry Wise Wood was an American-born Canadian agrarian thinker and activist. He became director in 1914 and was elected president of the United Farmers of Alberta in 1916. Under his leadership the UFA became the most powerful political lobby group in the province...

would lead the party into the 1921 election

Alberta general election, 1921

The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly....

and form a majority based on winning rural seats. The party did not run in the cities and allied with Labour candidates. Henry did not want the job as premier so the farmers were forced to shop around. John Brownlee

John Edward Brownlee

John Edward Brownlee was the fifth Premier of Alberta, Canada, serving from 1925 until 1934. Born in Port Ryerse, Ontario, he studied history and political science at the University of Toronto's Victoria College before moving west to Calgary to become a lawyer...

was asked first but declined. Herbert Greenfield

Herbert Greenfield

Herbert W. Greenfield was a Canadian politician who served as the fourth Premier of Alberta from 1921 until 1925. Born in Winchester, Hampshire, in England, he immigrated to Canada in his late twenties, settling first in Ontario and then in Alberta, where he farmed...

, the second choice, became the new premier.

Greenfield would resign four years later because he was often absent due to illness. John Brownlee

John Edward Brownlee

, who had previously been offered the job, succeeded him. Brownlee's reign as government leader was troubled by the onset of the great depression. He resigned in scandal after he was accused of sexual acts with a minor in the Attorney General's office. This and another scandalous divorce by Oran McPherson

Oran McPherson

Oran Leo "Tony" McPherson was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Little Bow from 1921 to 1935 as a member of the United Farmers of Alberta.-Early life:...

, speaker of the legislative assembly, gave the United Farmers an image of moral decay. In 1934 Richard Reid

Richard Gavin Reid

Richard Gavin "Dick" Reid was a Canadian politician who served as the sixth Premier of Alberta from 1934 to 1935...

would replace Brownlee and lead the United Farmers government into total defeat at the hands of the new Social Credit party.

Social Credit 1935–1971

Albertans turned away from the United Farmers government and began to follow evangelical radio preacher William Aberhart

William Aberhart

William Aberhart , also known as Bible Bill for his outspoken Baptist views, was a Canadian politician and the seventh Premier of Alberta between 1935 and 1943. The Social Credit party believed the reason for the depression was that people did not have enough money to spend, so the government...

, known as Bible Bill. The Social Credit party was quickly founded. Voters flocked to the radical monetary reforms proposed by Clifford Douglas

C. H. Douglas

Major C. H. Douglas MIMechE, MIEE, , was a British engineer and pioneer of the Social Credit economic reform movement.-Education and engineering career:...

to look for an escape to the Great Depression. Social Credit was elected with a massive majority in the 1935 election

Alberta general election, 1935

The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....

completely wiping out the United Farmers. Aberhart had a difficult time trying to implement the Social Credit theory and began to become unpopular almost losing his government in 1940.

Aberhart died in 1943 and was replaced by Ernest Manning

Ernest Manning

Ernest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history...

. Under Manning Social Credit moved away from the monetary theory of Douglas towards traditional conservatism. Manning would lead the party through seven straight massive majorities until he resigned in 1967. Harry Strom

Harry Strom

Harry Edwin Strom was the ninth Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 1968 to 1971. His two and a half years as Premier were the last of the thirty-six year Social Credit dynasty, as his defeat by Peter Lougheed saw its replacement by a new era Progressive Conservative government...

, a long time cabinet minister, would replace Manning. Strom would lead the party to defeat at the hands of the Progressive Conservatives

Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta

The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta...

and Peter Lougheed

Peter Lougheed

Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....

in the 1971 election

Alberta general election, 1971

The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....

. Strom and his government looked old and tired and out of touch compared to the new Progressive Conservatives.

Progressive Conservative 1971–present

The current government of Alberta was first led by Peter Lougheed

Peter Lougheed

Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....

, defeating the 36 year reign of Social Credit in 1971. Peter Lougheed served as premier winning four elections until 1985 when he retired from public office. Some of Lougheed's notable accomplishments were the Alberta Bill of Rights, and the Heritage Trust Fund.

Don Getty

Don Getty

Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...

, one of Lougheed’s long time cabinet ministers, would return to politics to win the leadership of the party. His reign would become very unpopular as he led Alberta into large deficit spending, and marked an era of big government which the province could not afford. In the 1989 election

Alberta general election, 1989

The Alberta general election of 1989 was the twenty-second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 20, 1989 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....

he was defeated in his seat in Edmonton-Whitemud

Edmonton-Whitemud

Edmonton-Whitemud is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. In 1989, its constituents unseated the Premier of the day, Donald Getty, by voting for Liberal candidate, Percy Wickman....

while his party won a majority. He would be forced to sit in the gallery until he won a seat in a by-election in Stettler

Stettler (provincial electoral district)

Stettler was a provincial electoral district in Alberta, Canada. It was mandated to return a single member to the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1909 to 1993.-1957 liquor plebiscite:...

. His refusal to leave as premier would lead Laurence Decore

Laurence Decore

Laurence G. Decore, CM was a Ukrainian-Canadian lawyer and politician from Alberta. He was mayor of Edmonton, a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and leader of the Alberta Liberal Party.- Early life :...

to help the Liberals sky rocket in popularity. Getty would resign and be replaced in a bitter leadership battle by Ralph Klein.

Ralph Klein, the former mayor of Calgary, led the party into the 1993 election

Alberta general election, 1993

The Alberta general election of 1993 was the twenty-third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 15, 1993 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...

, promising a new era of debt reduction and fiscal accountability. He walked away with a slim majority. Ralph Klein's folksy appeal helped the Progressive Conservatives renew themselves. He would lead the party through two elections, gaining in popularity each time. In early 2004 he announced that the Alberta debt was paid in full. He was rewarded with winning the 2004 election

Alberta general election, 2004

The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....

, despite running a campaign with no new policies brought forward. His party would lose a number of seats and during the campaign he stated this would be his last election. In 2006 at a Progressive Conservative convention delegates would force him to pick a retirement date by giving him low numbers in a leadership review.

Ed Stelmach

Ed Stelmach

Edward Michael "Ed" Stelmach, MLA is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and speaks fluent Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a...

would succeed Klein as premier, following his win of the leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative party in 2006. He won the 2008 provincial election, and then resigned as the party celebrated its 40 years in power in 2011. Alison Redford

Alison Redford

Alison Merrilla Redford Q.C., MLA, is a Canadian politician, and the 14th and current Premier of Alberta, Canada. Upon winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, in October 2011, she became the first female premier in Alberta...

is the current Premier of Alberta.

Premier of the North-West Territories

		Period	Assemblies	Elections
1st	Sir Frederick W. A. G. Haultain Frederick W. A. G. Haultain Sir Frederick William Alpin Gordon Haultain was a lawyer and a long serving Canadian politician and judge. His career in provincial and territorial legislatures stretched into four decades... (Liberal-Conservative Northwest Territories Liberal-Conservative Party The Northwest Territories Liberal-Conservative Party also known formally as the Liberal-Conservative Association prior to 1903 and the Territorial Conservative Association after 1903, was a short lived political party in the Northwest Territories, Canada. from 1897-1905... )	October 7, 1897 September 1, 1905	3rd 3rd North-West Legislative Assembly The 3rd North-West Legislative Assembly was the fifth meeting of the Northwest Territories Legislature, it lasted from 1894 to 1898. Several important developments happened during this Assembly...	Title changed to "premier" October 7, 1897
			4th 4th North-West Legislative Assembly 4th North-West Legislative Assembly was the 6th meeting of the Northwest Territories Legislature, it lasted from 1898 to 1902. This was also the first new council after creation of the Yukon from the extreme North West portion of the territories on June 13, 1898.-External links:*...	Re-elected November 4, 1898 Northwest Territories general election, 1898 The Northwest Territories general election of 1898 took place on 4 November 1898. This was the fourth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories....
			5th 5th North-West Legislative Assembly The 5th North-West Legislative Assembly lasted from 1902 until dissolution in 1905. This would be the largest membership of any Assembly to date in the Northwest Territories and the only one that truly had political parties, it would also be the last one to be fully elected and have a speaker until...	Re-elected May 21, 1902 Northwest Territories general election, 1902 The Northwest Territories general election of 1902, occurred on 21 May 1902 and was the fifth general election in the history of the Northwest Territories, Canada. It was held to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories. This was the last election held until 1951,... Provinces created September 1, 1905

Premiers of Alberta

		Period	Assemblies	Elections
1st	Alexander Rutherford Alexander Cameron Rutherford Alexander Cameron Rutherford was a Canadian lawyer and politician who served as the first Premier of Alberta from 1905 to 1910. Born in Ormond, Ontario, he studied and practised law in Ottawa before moving with his family to the Northwest Territories in 1895... (Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... )	September 2, 1905 May 26, 1910	—	Commissioned September 2, 1905
			1st 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly 1st Legislative Assembly of Alberta lasted from November 9, 1905 to Monday, March 22, 1909.The government was led by Alexander Rutherford of the Alberta Liberal Party, they held an overwhelming majority of seats during the first legislature....	Re-elected November 9, 1905 Alberta general election, 1905 The Alberta general election of 1905 was the first general election held in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 9 November 1905, to elect members of the Alberta legislature to the 1st Alberta Legislative Assembly, shortly after the province was created out of the Northwest Territories...
			2nd 2nd Alberta Legislative Assembly The 2nd Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from March 23, 1909 to April 17, 1913Alexander Rutherford led the overwhelming majority Alberta Liberal Party government in his second term.The total number of members increased by 16, to 41.-Party compostition:...	Re-elected March 22, 1909 Alberta general election, 1909 The Alberta general election was 1909 was the second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on 22 March 1909 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Resigned May 26, 1910
2nd	Arthur Sifton (Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... )	May 26, 1910 October 30, 1917		Appointed May 1910
			3rd 3rd Alberta Legislative Assembly The 3rd Legislative Assembly of Alberta lasted from 1913 to 1917 and was the first in Alberta history with a significant opposition. The government was head by Premier Arthur Sifton and the Alberta Liberal Party...	Re-elected March 25, 1913 Alberta general election, 1913 The Alberta general election of 1913 was the third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The writ was dropped on 25 March 1913 and election day was held 17 April 1913 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Elections in two northern districts took place on 30 July...
			4th 4th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 4th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1917 to 1921. The governing Liberal party would change Cabinets, and see its popular support decline...	Re-elected July 7, 1917 Alberta general election, 1917 The Alberta general election of 1917 was the fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, held on 7 June 1917 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Resigned October 30, 1917
3rd	Charles Stewart Charles Stewart (Canadian politician) Charles Stewart, PC was a Canadian politician who served as the third Premier of Alberta from 1917 until 1921. Born in Strabane, Ontario, in Wentworth County, Stewart was a farmer who moved west to Alberta after his farm was destroyed by a storm... (Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... )	October 30, 1917 August 13, 1921		Appointed October 1917
4th	Herbert Greenfield Herbert Greenfield Herbert W. Greenfield was a Canadian politician who served as the fourth Premier of Alberta from 1921 until 1925. Born in Winchester, Hampshire, in England, he immigrated to Canada in his late twenties, settling first in Ontario and then in Alberta, where he farmed... (United Farmers United Farmers of Alberta The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary... )	August 13, 1921 November 23, 1925	5th 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1921 until 1926. The United Farmers of Alberta swept into power after contesting their first general election held in 1921.-Standings changes since the 5th general election:...	Elected July 18, 1921 Alberta general election, 1921 The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly.... The United Farmers of Alberta won the 1921 election Alberta general election, 1921 The Alberta general election of 1921 was the fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on July 18, 1921 to elect members to the 5th Alberta Legislative Assembly.... without an MLA leader, but Greenfield was made leader immediately after it. Resigned November 23, 1925
5th	John Brownlee John Edward Brownlee John Edward Brownlee was the fifth Premier of Alberta, Canada, serving from 1925 until 1934. Born in Port Ryerse, Ontario, he studied history and political science at the University of Toronto's Victoria College before moving west to Calgary to become a lawyer... (United Farmers United Farmers of Alberta The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary... )	November 23, 1925 July 10, 1934		Designated 1925
			6th 6th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 6th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1926 to 1930. The United Farmers of Alberta government had been re-elected to their second term in power under Premier John Brownlee....	Re-elected June 28, 1926 Alberta general election, 1926 The Alberta general election of 1926 was the sixth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 28, 1926 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. The writs of election were issued on May 10, 1926 allowing for an election period of 40 days.After Herbert...
			7th 7th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 7th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1930 to 1935. The United Farmers of Alberta government had been re-elected to their third term in power under Premier John Brownlee.-Scandals:...	Re-elected June 19, 1930 Alberta general election, 1930 The Alberta general election of 1930 was the seventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 19, 1930 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Resigned July 10, 1934
6th	Richard Reid Richard Gavin Reid Richard Gavin "Dick" Reid was a Canadian politician who served as the sixth Premier of Alberta from 1934 to 1935... (United Farmers United Farmers of Alberta The United Farmers of Alberta is an association of Alberta farmers that has served many different roles throughout its history as a lobby group, a political party, and as a farm-supply retail chain. Since 1934 it has primarily been an agricultural supply cooperative headquartered in Calgary... )	July 10, 1934 September 3, 1935		Designated 1934
7th	William Aberhart William Aberhart William Aberhart , also known as Bible Bill for his outspoken Baptist views, was a Canadian politician and the seventh Premier of Alberta between 1935 and 1943. The Social Credit party believed the reason for the depression was that people did not have enough money to spend, so the government... (Social Credit Social Credit Party of Alberta The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values.... )	September 3, 1935 May 23, 1943	8th 8th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 8th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1935 to 1940. The Social Credit party swept to power forming the third government of Alberta under the leadership of William Aberhart. The United Farmers of Alberta lost every seat.-Composition at election:...	Elected August 22, 1935 Alberta general election, 1935 The Alberta general election of 1935 was the eighth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 22, 1935 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
7th		September 3, 1935 May 23, 1943	9th 9th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 9th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1940 to 1944. The Social Credit under the leadership of William Aberhart won a second reduced majority....	Re-elected March 21, 1940 Alberta general election, 1940 The Alberta general election of 1940 was the ninth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada, was held on March 21, 1940 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Died in office May 23, 1943
8th	Ernest Manning Ernest Manning Ernest Charles Manning, , a Canadian politician, was the eighth Premier of Alberta between 1943 and 1968 for the Social Credit Party of Alberta. He served longer than any premier in the province's history, and was the second longest serving provincial premier in Canadian history... (Social Credit Social Credit Party of Alberta The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values.... )	May 31, 1943 December 12, 1968		Chosen May 31, 1943
			10th 10th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 10th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1944 to 1948. Premier Ernest Manning called a snap election in 1944 to gain a new mandate. He won a big majority, wiping out most of the Independents. Three members of Canadian Armed Forces entered the Legislature in a delayed vote held in...	Re-elected August 8, 1944 Alberta general election, 1944 The Alberta general election of 1944 was the tenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. The Assembly was dissolved on July 8, 1944 and the vote for was held on August 8, 1944 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			11th 11th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 11th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1948 to 1952. The Social Credit government led by Premier Ernest Manning won a 4th term in office with a massive majority. The opposition was divided between the Liberal and Co-operative Commonwealth and 2 Independents.-Composition at...	Re-elected August 17, 1948 Alberta general election, 1948 The Alberta general election of 1948 was the eleventh general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 17, 1948 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			12th 12th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 12th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1952 to 1955. The Social Credit government led by Premier Ernest Manning won a 5th term in office with a massive majority. The official opposition was formed by the Liberals and the rest of the opposition was divided between the Conservatives,...	Re-elected August 5, 1952 Alberta general election, 1952 The Alberta general election of 1952 was the twelfth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 5, 1952 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C...
			13th 13th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 12th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1955 to 1959. The Social Credit government led by Premier Ernest Manning won a 6th term in office with a reduced majority...	Re-elected June 29, 1955 Alberta general election, 1955 The Alberta general election of 1955 was the thirteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 29, 1955 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			14th 14th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 14th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from 1959 to 1963. The Social Credit government had been re-elected to their seventh consecutive term in power under Premier Ernest Manning...	Re-elected June 18, 1959 Alberta general election, 1959 The Alberta general election of 1959 was the fourteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 18, 1959 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.Ernest C...
			15th 15th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 15th Alberta Legislative Assembly lasted from June 17, 1963 to dissolution on April 14, 1967. The Social Credit government had been re-elected to their eighth consecutive term in power under Premier Ernest Manning...	Re-elected June 17, 1963 Alberta general election, 1963 The Alberta general election of 1963 was the fifteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 17, 1963 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.The Social Credit Party, led by Ernest C...
			16th 16th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 16th Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on May 23, 1967.On August 30, 1971, the 19th Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 16th General Election:...	Re-elected May 23, 1967 Alberta general election, 1967 The Alberta general election of 1967 was the sixteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 23, 1967 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Resigned December 12, 1968
9th	Harry Strom Harry Strom Harry Edwin Strom was the ninth Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 1968 to 1971. His two and a half years as Premier were the last of the thirty-six year Social Credit dynasty, as his defeat by Peter Lougheed saw its replacement by a new era Progressive Conservative government... (Social Credit Social Credit Party of Alberta The Alberta Social Credit Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada, that was founded on the social credit monetary policy and conservative Christian social values.... )	December 12, 1968 September 10, 1971		Designated December 4, 1968
10th	Peter Lougheed Peter Lougheed Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985.... (Progressive Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... )	September 10, 1971 November 1, 1985	17th 17th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 17th Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on August 30, 1971.On March 25, 1975, the 18th Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 17th General Election:...	Elected July 30, 1971 Alberta general election, 1971 The Alberta general election of 1971 was the seventeenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on August 30, 1971 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			18th 18th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 18th Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on March 25, 1975.On March 14, 1979, the 19th Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 18th General Election:...	Re-elected March 25, 1975 Alberta general election, 1975 The Alberta general election of 1975 was the eighteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 25, 1975 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			19th 19th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 19th Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on March 14, 1979.On November 2, 1982, the 20th Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Seating plan in the 19th Assembly:...	Re-elected March 14, 1979 Alberta general election, 1979 The Alberta general election of 1979 was the nineteenth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 14, 1979 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			20th 20th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 20th Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on November 2, 1982.On May 8, 1986, the 21st Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 20th General Election:...	Re-elected November 2, 1982 Alberta general election, 1982 The Alberta general election of 1982 was the twentieth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 2, 1982 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Resigned November 1, 1985
11th	Don Getty Don Getty Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before... (Progressive Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... )	November 1, 1985 December 13, 1992		Designated October 1985
			21st 21st Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 21st Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on May 8, 1986.On March 20, 1989, the 22nd Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 21st General Election:...	Re-elected May 8, 1986 Alberta general election, 1986 The Alberta general election of 1986 was the twenty-first general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on May 8, 1986 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			22nd 22nd Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 22nd Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on March 20, 1989.On June 15, 1993, the 23rd Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 22nd General Election:...	Re-elected March 20, 1989 Alberta general election, 1989 The Alberta general election of 1989 was the twenty-second general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 20, 1989 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Resigned December 13, 1992
12th	Ralph Klein (Progressive Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... )	December 14, 1992 December 14, 2006		Designated December 5, 1992
			23rd 23rd Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 23rd Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on June 15, 1993.On March 11, 1997, the 24th Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 23rd General Election:...	Re-elected June 15, 1993 Alberta general election, 1993 The Alberta general election of 1993 was the twenty-third general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on June 15, 1993 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta...
			24th 24th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 24th Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held in 1997.On March 12, 2001, the 25th Alberta general election was held to elect the next legislature.-Party standings after the 24th General Election:...	Re-elected March 11, 1997 Alberta general election, 1997 The Alberta general election of 1997 was the twenty-fourth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 11, 1997 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			25th 25th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 25th Alberta Legislative Assembly were elected in the general election held on March 12, 2001 and, with the exception of the three MLAs listed below, held their seats until dissolution of the legislature on October 25, 2004....	Re-elected March 12, 2001 Alberta general election, 2001 The Alberta general election of 2001 was the twenty-fifth general election for the Province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 12, 2001 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
			26th 26th Alberta Legislative Assembly The members of the 26th Legislature were elected in the 26th Alberta general election held on November 22, 2004. In the list below, cabinet members' names are bolded; leaders of official parties are italicized.-Party standings after 26th General...	Re-elected November 22, 2004 Alberta general election, 2004 The Alberta general election of 2004 was the twenty-sixth general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on November 22, 2004 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.... Resigned December 14, 2006
13th	Ed Stelmach Ed Stelmach Edward Michael "Ed" Stelmach, MLA is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and speaks fluent Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a... (Progressive Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... )	December 14, 2006 October 7, 2011		Designated December 2, 2006
13th		December 14, 2006 October 7, 2011	27th 27th Alberta Legislative Assembly The 27th Alberta Legislative Assembly was constituted after the 2008 Alberta general election on March 3, 2008. The Progressive Conservatives led by Premier Ed Stelmach increased the size of his majority.-Election aftermath:...	Re-elected March 3, 2008 Resigned October 7, 2011
14th	Alison Redford Alison Redford Alison Merrilla Redford Q.C., MLA, is a Canadian politician, and the 14th and current Premier of Alberta, Canada. Upon winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, in October 2011, she became the first female premier in Alberta... (Progressive Conservative Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta is a provincial centre-right party in the Canadian province of Alberta... )	October 7, 2011 present		Designated October 1, 2011 Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011 The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011 was prompted by Ed Stelmach's announcement that he would not be seeking re-election in the 28th general election and therefore would be resigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives...

Notes:

Living former premiers

, four former premiers are alive, the oldest being Peter Lougheed

Peter Lougheed

Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....

(1971–1985, born 1928). The most recent former premier to die was Ernest Manning

Ernest Manning

(1943–1968), on February 19, 1996. The most recently-serving premier to die was Harry Strom

Harry Strom

(1968–1971), on October 2, 1984.

Name	Term	Date of birth
Peter Lougheed Peter Lougheed Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....	1971–1985	July 26, 1928 (age 83)
Don Getty Don Getty Donald Ross Getty, OC, AOE is a retired Canadian politician who served as the 11th Premier of Alberta between 1985 and 1992. A member of the Progressive Conservatives, he served as Energy Minister and Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs Minister in the government of Peter Lougheed before...	1985–1992	August 30, 1933 (age 78)
Ralph Klein	1992–2006	November 01, 1942 (age 69)
Ed Stelmach Ed Stelmach Edward Michael "Ed" Stelmach, MLA is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and speaks fluent Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a...	2006–2011	May 11, 1951 (age 60)

External links

Premier of Alberta official site

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.