Alberta's second government was controlled by the majority Liberal Party led by Premier Arthur Sifton, who would resign shortly after the 1917 election on October 30, 1917 to contest the 1917 Canadian general election for the Unionist Party under Prime Minister Robert Borden in support of the Borden government during the Conscription Crisis of 1917. Charles Stewart would be Sifton's choice as replacement as Premier, which was accepted by Lieutenant Governor Robert Brett. The Official Opposition was the Conservative Party led by George Hoadley for the first session, and James Ramsey for the remaining sessions. The Speaker was Charles W. Fisher who continued in the role from the 1st, 2nd and 3rd assembly, and would serve in the role until his death from the 1918 flu pandemic on May 5, 1919. Fisher was replaced as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly by Charles Pingle.