# 26th Alberta Legislature

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.

## Members of the 26th Legislature by district

| Member | Party | Constituency | First elected/ previously elected | Notes |
| Tony Abbott | Progressive Conservative | Drayton Valley-Calmar | 2001 | |
| Cindy Ady | Progressive Conservative | Calgary Shaw | 2001 | |
| Bharat Agnihotri | Liberal | Edmonton Ellerslie | 2004 | |
| Moe Amery | Progressive Conservative | Calgary East | 1993 | |
| Dan Backs | Liberal | Edmonton Manning | 2004 | Elected as a Liberal, expelled from caucus in November 2006 |
| Dan Backs | Independent | Edmonton Manning | 2004 | Elected as a Liberal, expelled from caucus in November 2006 |
| Laurie Blakeman | Liberal | Edmonton Centre | 1997 | |
| Bill Bonko | Liberal | Edmonton Decore | 2004 | |
| Guy Boutilier | Progressive Conservative | Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo | 1997 | |
| Neil Brown | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Nose Hill | 2004 | |
| Pearl Calahasen | Progressive Conservative | Lesser Slave Lake | 1989 | |
| Wayne Cao | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Fort | 1997 | |
| Mike Cardinal | Progressive Conservative | Athabasca-Redwater | 1989 | |
| Harvey Cenaiko | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Buffalo | 2001 | |
| Harry B. Chase | Liberal | Calgary-Varsity | 2004 | |
| Craig Cheffins | Liberal | Calgary-Elbow | 2007 | Succeeded Ralph Klein in a by-election June 12, 2007. |
| David Coutts | Progressive Conservative | Livingstone-Macleod | 1993 | |
| Ray Danyluk | Progressive Conservative | Lac La Biche-St. Paul | 2001 | |
| Alana DeLong | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Bow | 2001 | |
| Victor Doerksen | Progressive Conservative | Red Deer South | 1993 | |
| Denis Ducharme | Progressive Conservative | Bonnyville-Cold Lake | 1997 | |
| Clint Dunford | Progressive Conservative | Lethbridge-West | 1993 | |
| David Eggen | NDP | Edmonton-Calder | 2004 | |
| Mo Elsalhy | Liberal | Edmonton-McClung | 2004 | |
| Iris Evans | Progressive Conservative | Sherwood Park | 1997 | |
| Jack Flaherty | Liberal | St. Albert | 2004 | |
| Heather Forsyth | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Fish Creek | 1993 | |
| Yvonne Fritz | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Cross | 1993 | |
| Hector Goudreau | Progressive Conservative | Dunvegan | 2001 | |
| Gordon Graydon | Progressive Conservative | Grande Prairie Wapiti | 2001 | |
| Doug Griffiths | Progressive Conservative | Battle River-Wainwright | 2002 | |
| George Groeneveld | Progressive Conservative | Highwood | 2004 | |
| Carol Haley | Progressive Conservative | Airdrie-Chestermere | 1993 | |
| David Hancock | Progressive Conservative | Edmonton-Whitemud | 1997 | |
| Jack Hayden | Progressive Conservative | Drumheller-Stettler | 2007 | Succeeded Shirley McClellan in a by-election June 12, 2007. |
| Denis Herard | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Egmont | 1993 | |
| Paul Hinman | Alberta Alliance | Cardston-Taber-Warner | 2004 | The Alberta Alliance Party was dissolved, and the Wildrose Alliance Party was formed in early 2008 |
| Paul Hinman | Wildrose Alliance | Cardston-Taber-Warner | 2004 | The Alberta Alliance Party was dissolved, and the Wildrose Alliance Party was formed in early 2008 |
| Doug Horner | Progressive Conservative | Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert | 2001 | |
| Mary Anne Jablonski | Progressive Conservative | Red Deer-North | 2000 | |
| LeRoy Johnson | Progressive Conservative | Wetaskiwin-Camrose | 1997 | |
| Arthur Johnston | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Hays | 2004 | |
| Ralph Klein | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Elbow | 1989 | Resigned 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. |
| Mel Knight | Progressive Conservative | Grande Prairie-Smoky | 2001 | |
| Ken Kowalski † | Progressive Conservative | Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock | 1979 | |
| Ron Liepert | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-West | 2004 | |
| Fred Lindsay | Progressive Conservative | Stony Plain | 2004 | |
| Rob Lougheed | Progressive Conservative | Strathcona | 1997 | |
| Thomas Lukaszuk | Progressive Conservative | Edmonton-Castle Downs | 2001 | |
| Ty Lund | Progressive Conservative | Rocky Mountain House | 1989 | |
| Hugh MacDonald | Liberal | Edmonton-Gold Bar | 1997 | |
| Richard Magnus | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-North Hill | 1993 | |
| Gary Mar | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Mackay | 1993 | Resigned November 2007; seat left vacant until the 2008 election |
| Ray Martin | NDP | Edmonton-Beverly-Clareview | 1982, 2004 | |
| Richard Marz | Progressive Conservative | Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills | 1997 | |
| Brian Mason | NDP | Edmonton Highlands Norwood | 2000 | |
| Weslyn Mather | Liberal | Edmonton Mill Woods | 2004 | |
| Shirley McClellan | Progressive Conservative | Drumheller-Stettler | 1987 | Resigned January 15, 2007, succeeded by Jack Hayden. |
| Barry McFarland | Progressive Conservative | Little Bow | 1992 | |
| Greg Melchin | Progressive Conservative | Calgary North West | 1997 | |
| Bruce Miller | Liberal | Edmonton-Glenora | 2004 | |
| Richard Miller | Liberal | Edmonton Rutherford | 2004 | |
| Leonard Mitzel | Progressive Conservative | Cypress-Medicine Hat | 2004 | |
| Ted Morton | Progressive Conservative | Foothills-Rocky View | 2004 | |
| Lyle Oberg | Progressive Conservative | Strathmore-Brooks | 1993 | Suspended from P.C. caucus March 22, 2006; re-admitted July 25, 2006. |
| Frank Oberle | Progressive Conservative | Peace River | 2004 | |
| Luke Ouellette | Progressive Conservative | Innisfail-Sylvan Lake | 2001 | |
| Raj Pannu | NDP | Edmonton Strathcona | 1997 | |
| Bridget Pastoor | Liberal | Lethbridge East | 2004 | |
| Hung Pham | Progressive Conservative | Calgary Montrose | 1993 | |
| Ray Prins | Progressive Conservative | Lacombe-Ponoka | 2004 | |
| Rob Renner | Progressive Conservative | Medicine Hat | 1993 | |
| David Rodney | Progressive Conservative | Calgary Lougheed | 2004 | |
| George Rogers | Progressive Conservative | Leduc-Beaumont-Devon | 2004 | |
| Shiraz Shariff | Progressive Conservative | Calgary McCall | 1995 | |
| Lloyd Snelgrove | Progressive Conservative | Vermilion-Lloydminster | 2001 | |
| Ed Stelmach | Progressive Conservative | Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville | 1993 | |
| Ron Stevens | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Glenmore | 1997 | |
| Ivan Strang | Progressive Conservative | West Yellowhead | 1997 | |
| David Swann | Liberal | Calgary Mountain View | 2004 | |
| Kevin Taft | Liberal | Edmonton Riverview | 2001 | |
| Janis Tarchuk | Progressive Conservative | Banff-Cochrane | 1997 | |
| Dave Taylor | Liberal | Calgary Currie | 2004 | |
| Maurice Tougas | Liberal | Edmonton Meadowlark | 2004 | |
| George VanderBurg | Progressive Conservative | Whitecourt-Ste. Anne | 2001 | |
| Len Webber | Progressive Conservative | Calgary-Foothills | 2004 | |
| Gene Zwozdesky | Progressive Conservative | Edmonton Mill Creek | 1993 | |
* 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.
* 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 members per party by date | Number of members per party by date | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2007 | 2007 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Number of members per party by date | Number of members per party by date | Nov 22 | Feb 2 | Mar 22 | Jul 25 | Nov 20 | Jan 15 | Jun 12 | Sep 27 | Jan 19 |
| | Progressive Conservative | 61 | 62 | 61 | 62 | 62 | 60 | 61 | 60 | 60 |
| | Liberal | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
| | New Democratic | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| | Wildrose Alliance | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | Independent | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| | Alberta Alliance | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| | Total members | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 83 | 81 | 83 | 82 | 82 |
| | Vacant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| | Government Majority | 39 | 41 | 39 | 41 | 41 | 39 | 39 | 38 | 38 |
* 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.