Leader of the Opposition (Alberta)

The leader of the Official Opposition, formally known as the leader of His Majesty's Loyal Opposition, is the member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) who leads the Official Opposition, typically the second largest party in the provincial legislature.

Alberta has enjoyed long periods of stable government rule, and has elected massive government majority during almost every election in its history. In most other legislatures in Canada, the opposition party is traditionally recognized as a government in waiting, and will alternate periods of government among two or three parties. In Alberta however the opposition has traditionally been very small in terms of seat numbers, and highly unstable in terms of party leadership.

Peter Lougheed in 1971, Jason Kenney in 2019, and Danielle Smith in 2022 are the only leaders of the Opposition to become Premier of Alberta. Harry Strom in 1971 and Rachel Notley in 2019 are the only premiers to become opposition leader.