Rachel Notley
Encyclopedia
Rachel Notley is a Canadian
lawyer and politician, currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
. Notley's legal career has focused on labour law, with a specialty in workers' compensation advocacy and workplace health and safety issues. Notley was elected MLA for Edmonton Strathcona
in the 2008 provincial election
, succeeding former NDP leader Raj Pannu
.
Notley grew up in the Town of Fairview, Alberta as the daughter of Sandy and (former Alberta NDP Leader) Grant Notley
. She is the sister of Paul Notley and Stephen Notley (author and illustrator of Bob the Angry Flower
).
Notley earned a Bachelor of Arts
(BA) in Political Science
at the University of Alberta
, and a law degree
at Osgoode Hall Law School
.
After law school, Notley articled for Edmonton labour lawyer Bob Blakely, and went on to work for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees representing members with Workers' Compensation
Board cases.
In 1994, Notley moved to Vancouver
, British Columbia
, where she worked for the Health Sciences Association of BC as their Occupational Health and Safety Officer. During her time in BC, she worked for one year as a Ministerial Assistant to the provincial Attorney General
. In this role, she was part of the team that first expanded the application of BC's family relations laws to same sex couples - several years before the Government of Canada
took similar initiatives.
Notley acted as a representative of the BC Labour movement in the negotiation and drafting of new workplace health and safety standards.
During her time in Vancouver, Notley was active with “Moms on the Move”, an organization that advocated for the rights of special needs children. She is also a past Board member of the Vancouver Community College
.
In 2002, Notley returned to Edmonton. She worked for a short time for the National Union of Public and General Employees
(NUPGE), worked at Athabasca University
, acted as volunteer co-ordinator for the Friends of Medicare "Romanow Now" campaign, and finally as a Labour Relations Officer for the United Nurses of Alberta
.
In 2006, Notley did volunteer work with the Strathcona Community League, assisting with a drive to garner support for the installation of sidewalks in east Strathcona.
On October 4, 2006, Notley was nominated to represent the Alberta NDP in the provincial constituency of Edmonton Strathcona.
On March 3, 2008, Notley was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Strathcona. She serves as the NDP house leader and critic for Education, Environment, Justice, and Children and Youth Services, among other ministries.
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...
lawyer and politician, currently a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta
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...
. Notley's legal career has focused on labour law, with a specialty in workers' compensation advocacy and workplace health and safety issues. Notley was elected MLA for Edmonton Strathcona
Edmonton Strathcona
Edmonton Strathcona can refer to:*Edmonton—Strathcona, a federal electoral district*Edmonton-Strathcona...
in the 2008 provincial election
27th Alberta general election
The Alberta general election of 2008 was the twenty-seventh general election for the province of Alberta, Canada. It was held on March 3, 2008 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta....
, succeeding former NDP leader Raj Pannu
Raj Pannu
Raj Pannu is a Canadian educator and politician, who led the Alberta New Democratic Party from 2000 to 2004.Pannu was born in Punjab, India completing an undergraduate degree before immigrating to Canada in 1962...
.
Notley grew up in the Town of Fairview, Alberta as the daughter of Sandy and (former Alberta NDP Leader) Grant Notley
Grant Notley
Walter Grant Notley was a provincial politician in Alberta, Canada. He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1971 to 1984 and also served as leader of the Alberta NDP from 1968 to 1984....
. She is the sister of Paul Notley and Stephen Notley (author and illustrator of Bob the Angry Flower
Bob the Angry Flower
Bob the Angry Flower is a black-and-white comic strip that tells the exploits of an easily angered anthropomorphic flower named Bob and his interactions with the world, often in search of either global domination or love...
).
Notley earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
(BA) in Political Science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
at the University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
, and a law degree
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
at Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School
Osgoode Hall Law School is a Canadian law school, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and affiliated with York University. Named after the first Chief Justice of Ontario, William Osgoode, the law school was established by The Law Society of Upper Canada in 1889 and was the only accredited law...
.
After law school, Notley articled for Edmonton labour lawyer Bob Blakely, and went on to work for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees representing members with Workers' Compensation
Workers' compensation
Workers' compensation is a form of insurance providing wage replacement and medical benefits to employees injured in the course of employment in exchange for mandatory relinquishment of the employee's right to sue his or her employer for the tort of negligence...
Board cases.
In 1994, Notley moved to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, where she worked for the Health Sciences Association of BC as their Occupational Health and Safety Officer. During her time in BC, she worked for one year as a Ministerial Assistant to the provincial Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
. In this role, she was part of the team that first expanded the application of BC's family relations laws to same sex couples - several years before the Government of Canada
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada, formally Her Majesty's Government, is the system whereby the federation of Canada is administered by a common authority; in Canadian English, the term can mean either the collective set of institutions or specifically the Queen-in-Council...
took similar initiatives.
Notley acted as a representative of the BC Labour movement in the negotiation and drafting of new workplace health and safety standards.
During her time in Vancouver, Notley was active with “Moms on the Move”, an organization that advocated for the rights of special needs children. She is also a past Board member of the Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College
Vancouver Community College is a public post-secondary institution in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 1965, it is the largest and oldest community college in British Columbia, with over 140 certificate and diploma programs...
.
In 2002, Notley returned to Edmonton. She worked for a short time for the National Union of Public and General Employees
National Union of Public and General Employees
The National Union of Public and General Employees is a Canadian trade union. Taken in total it is the second largest union in Canada. Most of its 340,000 members work in the provincial public service sector...
(NUPGE), worked at Athabasca University
Athabasca University
Athabasca University is a Canadian university in Athabasca, Alberta. It is an accredited research institution which also offers distance education courses and programs. Courses are offered primarily in English with some French offerings. Each year, 32,000 students attend the university. It offers...
, acted as volunteer co-ordinator for the Friends of Medicare "Romanow Now" campaign, and finally as a Labour Relations Officer for the United Nurses of Alberta
United Nurses of Alberta
The United Nurses of Alberta is a trade union representing almost 25,000 Registered Nurses, Registered psychiatric nurse, student nurses and mental health workers in Alberta. UNA negotiates collective bargaining with the employers, of which the largest is Alberta Health Services...
.
In 2006, Notley did volunteer work with the Strathcona Community League, assisting with a drive to garner support for the installation of sidewalks in east Strathcona.
On October 4, 2006, Notley was nominated to represent the Alberta NDP in the provincial constituency of Edmonton Strathcona.
On March 3, 2008, Notley was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Strathcona. She serves as the NDP house leader and critic for Education, Environment, Justice, and Children and Youth Services, among other ministries.