The 26th Alberta Legislative Assembly was in session from March 1, 2005, to February 4, 2008, with the membership of the assembly determined by the results of the 2004 Alberta general election held on November 22, 2004. The Legislature officially resumed on March 1, 2005, and continued until the fourth session was prorogued and dissolved on February 4, 2008, prior to the 2008 Alberta general election on March 3, 2008.
Alberta's twenty-sixth government was controlled by the majority Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, led by Premier Ralph Klein until his resignation on December 24, 2006, after which he was succeeded by Ed Stelmach. The Official Opposition was led by Kevin Taft of the Liberal Party. The Speaker was Ken Kowalski. In the list below, cabinet members' names are bolded; leaders of official parties are italicized.
This legislature had the distinction of being addressed by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, to help celebrate Alberta's centennial.
Party standings after 26th General Elections
Members of the 26th Legislature by district MemberPartyConstituencyFirst elected/ previously electedNo.# of term(s)NotesCarol HaleyProgressive ConservativeAirdrie-Chestermere19934th termMike CardinalProgressive ConservativeAthabasca-Redwater19895th termJanis TarchukProgressive ConservativeBanff-Cochrane19973rd termKen Kowalski †Progressive ConservativeBarrhead-Morinville-Westlock19798th termDoug GriffithsProgressive ConservativeBattle River-Wainwright20022nd termDenis DucharmeProgressive ConservativeBonnyville-Cold Lake19973rd termAlana DeLongProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Bow20012nd termHarvey CenaikoProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Buffalo20012nd termYvonne FritzProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Cross19934th termDave TaylorLiberalCalgary Currie20041st termMoe AmeryProgressive ConservativeCalgary East19934th termDenis HerardProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Egmont19934th termRalph KleinProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Elbow19895th termResigned as Premier December 14, 2006 and from legislature January 15, 2007; succeeded by Craig Cheffins as MLA for Calgary-Elbow and by Ed Stelmach as Premier.Craig CheffinsLiberal20071st termSucceeded Ralph Klein in a by-election June 12, 2007.Heather ForsythProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Fish Creek19934th termLen WebberProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Foothills20041st termWayne CaoProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Fort19973rd termRon StevensProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Glenmore19973rd termArthur JohnstonProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Hays20041st termDavid RodneyProgressive ConservativeCalgary Lougheed20041st termGary MarProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Mackay19934th termResigned November 2007; seat left vacant until the 2008 electionShiraz ShariffProgressive ConservativeCalgary McCall19954th termHung PhamProgressive ConservativeCalgary Montrose19934th termDavid SwannLiberalCalgary Mountain View20041st termRichard MagnusProgressive ConservativeCalgary-North Hill19934th termGreg MelchinProgressive ConservativeCalgary North West19973rd termNeil BrownProgressive ConservativeCalgary-Nose Hill20041st termCindy AdyProgressive ConservativeCalgary Shaw20012nd termHarry B. ChaseLiberalCalgary-Varsity20041st termRon LiepertProgressive ConservativeCalgary-West20041st termPaul HinmanAlberta AllianceCardston-Taber-Warner20041st termThe Alberta Alliance Party was dissolved, and the Wildrose Alliance Party was formed in early 2008Wildrose AllianceLeonard MitzelProgressive ConservativeCypress-Medicine Hat20041st termTony AbbottProgressive ConservativeDrayton Valley-Calmar20012nd termShirley McClellanProgressive ConservativeDrumheller-Stettler19876th termResigned January 15, 2007, succeeded by Jack Hayden.Jack HaydenProgressive Conservative20071st termSucceeded Shirley McClellan in a by-election June 12, 2007.Hector GoudreauProgressive ConservativeDunvegan20012nd termRay MartinNDPEdmonton-Beverly-Clareview1982, 20044th term*David EggenNDPEdmonton-Calder20041st termThomas LukaszukProgressive ConservativeEdmonton-Castle Downs20012nd termLaurie BlakemanLiberalEdmonton Centre19973rd termBill BonkoLiberalEdmonton Decore20041st termBharat AgnihotriLiberalEdmonton Ellerslie20041st termBruce MillerLiberalEdmonton-Glenora20041st termHugh MacDonaldLiberalEdmonton-Gold Bar19973rd termBrian MasonNDPEdmonton Highlands Norwood20003rd termDan BacksLiberalEdmonton Manning20041st termElected as a Liberal, expelled from caucus in November 2006IndependentMo ElsalhyLiberalEdmonton-McClung20041st termMaurice TougasLiberalEdmonton Meadowlark20041st termGene ZwozdeskyProgressive ConservativeEdmonton Mill Creek19934th termWeslyn MatherLiberalEdmonton Mill Woods20041st termKevin TaftLiberalEdmonton Riverview20012nd termRichard MillerLiberalEdmonton Rutherford20041st termRaj PannuNDPEdmonton Strathcona19973rd termDavid HancockProgressive ConservativeEdmonton-Whitemud19973rd termTed MortonProgressive ConservativeFoothills-Rocky View20041st termGuy BoutilierProgressive ConservativeFort McMurray-Wood Buffalo19973rd termEd StelmachProgressive ConservativeFort Saskatchewan-Vegreville19934th termMel KnightProgressive ConservativeGrande Prairie-Smoky20012nd termGordon GraydonProgressive ConservativeGrande Prairie Wapiti20012nd termGeorge GroeneveldProgressive ConservativeHighwood20041st termLuke OuelletteProgressive ConservativeInnisfail-Sylvan Lake20012nd termRay DanylukProgressive ConservativeLac La Biche-St. Paul20012nd termRay PrinsProgressive ConservativeLacombe-Ponoka20041st termGeorge RogersProgressive ConservativeLeduc-Beaumont-Devon20041st termPearl CalahasenProgressive ConservativeLesser Slave Lake19895th termBridget PastoorLiberalLethbridge East20041st termClint DunfordProgressive ConservativeLethbridge-West19934th termBarry McFarlandProgressive ConservativeLittle Bow19925th termDavid CouttsProgressive ConservativeLivingstone-Macleod19934th termRob RennerProgressive ConservativeMedicine Hat19934th termRichard MarzProgressive ConservativeOlds-Didsbury-Three Hills19973rd termFrank OberleProgressive ConservativePeace River20041st termMary Anne JablonskiProgressive ConservativeRed Deer-North20003rd termVictor DoerksenProgressive ConservativeRed Deer South19934th termTy LundProgressive ConservativeRocky Mountain House19895th termIris EvansProgressive ConservativeSherwood Park19973rd termDoug HornerProgressive ConservativeSpruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert20012nd termJack FlahertyLiberalSt. Albert20041st termFred LindsayProgressive ConservativeStony Plain20041st termRob LougheedProgressive ConservativeStrathcona19973rd termLyle ObergProgressive ConservativeStrathmore-Brooks19934th termSuspended from P.C. caucus March 22, 2006; re-admitted July 25, 2006.IndependentProgressive ConservativeLloyd SnelgroveProgressive ConservativeVermilion-Lloydminster20012nd termIvan StrangProgressive ConservativeWest Yellowhead19973rd termLeRoy JohnsonProgressive ConservativeWetaskiwin-Camrose19973rd termGeorge VanderBurgProgressive ConservativeWhitecourt-Ste. Anne20012nd term
The Alberta Court of Appeal declared Thomas Lukaszuk the victor more than two months after the election. The election-night vote count had given Chris Kibermanis of the Liberals a five-vote win, but the judicial recount gave Lukaszuk a three-vote margin of victory. A party requires four seats to have official party status in the legislature. Parties with fewer than four seats are not entitled to party funding although their members will usually be permitted to sit together in the chamber.
Notable events The province's centennial occurred during the 26th Legislature, on September 1, 2005. Earlier that year, on May 24, 2005, Elizabeth II made an official visit to the province in commemoration of the centennial.Hansard for Tuesday, May 24, 2006, Afternoon. Retrieved on September 26, 2006. On March 1, 2006, premier Ralph Klein announced a series of controversial health care reforms which involved allowing greater levels of privatization in Alberta's public health care system. Later that day, the premier received significant media attention after throwing a book at a 17-year-old page. On March 15, 2006, and throughout the year, the Legislative Assembly celebrated the centennial of the first sitting of the Legislature. On April 6, 2006, Ted Morton introduced the controversial Bill 208, Protection of Fundamental Freedoms (Marriage) Statutes Amendment Act, 2006. Critics maintained that the bill removed limitations on free speech where homosexual individuals were concerned, potentially removing recourse for verbal abuse and discrimination. The bill died on the order paper on May 18, 2006.
Standings changes during the 26th Assembly Number of membersper party by date20042005200620072008Nov 22Feb 2Mar 22Jul 25Nov 20Jan 15Jun 12Sep 27Jan 196162616260616017161516401Independent010110Total members83818382Vacant0201Government Majority394139413938 February 2, 2005 Chris Kibermanis, Edmonton Castle Downs removed from office after a judicial recount. February 2, 2005 Thomas Lukaszuk, Edmonton Castle Downs becomes the MLA by court order. March 22, 2006 Lyle Oberg, Strathmore-Brooks suspended from the Progressive Conservative caucus July 25, 2006 Lyle Oberg, Strathmore-Brooks rejoins the Progressive Conservatives January 15, 2007 Ralph Klein, Calgary-Elbow resigns January 15, 2007 Shirley McClellan, Drumheller-Stettler resigns June 12, 2007 Craig Cheffins, Calgary-Elbow elected in by-election June 12, 2007 Jack Hayden, Drumheller-Stettler elected in by-election November 20, 2006 Dan Backs, Edmonton Manning was expelled from the Liberal caucus. September 27, 2007 Gary Mar, Calgary Mackay resigns to accept a government appointment. January 19, 2008 Paul Hinman, Cardston-Taber-Warner forms the Wildrose Alliance caucus.
Notes
References
Further reading
External links Alberta Legislative Assembly Legislative Assembly of Alberta Members Book By-elections 1905 to present