Alison Redford
Encyclopedia
Alison Merrilla Redford Q.C., MLA
, (born March 7, 1965) is a Canadian politician, and the 14th and current Premier of Alberta, Canada
. Upon winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
, in October 2011, she became the first female premier in Alberta. Redford was born in Kitimat, British Columbia
and raised in Calgary
, Alberta; before entering politics she worked as lawyer.
In the 2008 provincial election, Redford was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly
(MLA) for the district of Calgary-Elbow. She is Canada's eighth female premier, and for the first time in Canadian history, four provinces or territories simultaneously have female premiers.
at the University of Saskatchewan
in 1988.
The Secretary General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali
appointed and assigned Alison Redford to a post in the United Nations as a special legal adviser.
Throughout the 1990s, Redford worked as a technical advisor on constitutional and legal reform issues in various parts of Africa for the European Union
, the Commonwealth Secretariat
, the Canadian Government and the Government of Australia. Her work in Africa focused on human rights litigation, developing education programs and policy reform with respect to gender
issues.
In 1999, Redford was employed by the Government of Alberta as the communications officer on the committee for Justice Reform. The criminal Justice Reform Committee advised a program of reform in which the criminalization of mental health issues and the ongoing plea bargaining system was criticized by such organizations as the Elizabeth Fry Society, a national body representing women. convicted of crimes. Checks and balances within the Crown Prosecutors office were removed permitting each of the prosecutors to act independently and according to their own view. Several programs of advocacy were removed or absorbed into the Alberta Justice programs.
One of Redford's most notable appointments was by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
as one of the four International Election Commissioners to administer Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections held in September 2005. Political issues in the elections program within Alberta at that time were under question by the Elections Commissioner. She also served as an advisor to the Privy Council Office
on Canada's future involvement in Afghanistan subsequent to the elections. Her work has included assignments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Philippines. Before her most current post, Redford managed a judicial training and legal reform project for the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People's Court in Vietnam.
, Secretary of State for External Affairs and in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada from 1988 to 1990. In this capacity, Redford organized a series of national foreign policy consultations facilitating public input on the Government of Canada's White Papers on Foreign Affairs and Defence. In the Canadian Parliament, she was also the Principal Legislative Advisor to the Secretary of State for External Affairs.
On March 13, 2008, after being elected MLA for the constituency of Calgary-Elbow
, Redford was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General by Premier Ed Stelmach
. In addition, she also served as a member of the Agenda and Priorities Committee, the Treasury Board, and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Safety and Services. She resigned from the cabinet in early 2011 to devote herself to her campaign to succeed Stelmach as leader of the governing Progressive Conservative Party.
On October 2, 2011, Redford won the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership
, effectively making her premier-designate of the province of Alberta. Redford was sworn in as Alberta's 14th Premier at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on October 7, 2011.
Redford lives in Calgary with her husband Glen Jermyn and daughter Sarah.
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...
, (born March 7, 1965) is a Canadian politician, and the 14th and current Premier of Alberta, Canada
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...
. Upon winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011 was prompted by Ed Stelmach's announcement that he would not be seeking re-election in the 28th general election and therefore would be resigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives...
, in October 2011, she became the first female premier in Alberta. Redford was born in Kitimat, 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...
and raised in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta; before entering politics she worked as lawyer.
In the 2008 provincial election, Redford was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
(MLA) for the district of Calgary-Elbow. She is Canada's eighth female premier, and for the first time in Canadian history, four provinces or territories simultaneously have female premiers.
Early life
Redford was born March 7, 1965 in Kitimat, British Columbia. Her family moved to Nova Scotia and Borneo, and to Calgary by the time Redford was 12. She graduated from Bishop Carroll High School, Calgary, and from the College of LawUniversity of Saskatchewan College of Law
The College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan is the university's law school. Located in Saskatoon in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan, the College of Law was established in 1912 and is the oldest law school in Western Canada....
at the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in 1988.
The Secretary General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali
Boutros Boutros-Ghali is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the sixth Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1992 to December 1996...
appointed and assigned Alison Redford to a post in the United Nations as a special legal adviser.
Throughout the 1990s, Redford worked as a technical advisor on constitutional and legal reform issues in various parts of Africa for the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the Commonwealth Secretariat
Commonwealth Secretariat
The Commonwealth Secretariat is the main intergovernmental agency and central institution of the Commonwealth of Nations. It is responsible for facilitating cooperation between members; organising meetings, including the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings ; assisting and advising on policy...
, the Canadian Government and the Government of Australia. Her work in Africa focused on human rights litigation, developing education programs and policy reform with respect to gender
issues.
In 1999, Redford was employed by the Government of Alberta as the communications officer on the committee for Justice Reform. The criminal Justice Reform Committee advised a program of reform in which the criminalization of mental health issues and the ongoing plea bargaining system was criticized by such organizations as the Elizabeth Fry Society, a national body representing women. convicted of crimes. Checks and balances within the Crown Prosecutors office were removed permitting each of the prosecutors to act independently and according to their own view. Several programs of advocacy were removed or absorbed into the Alberta Justice programs.
One of Redford's most notable appointments was by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
as one of the four International Election Commissioners to administer Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections held in September 2005. Political issues in the elections program within Alberta at that time were under question by the Elections Commissioner. She also served as an advisor to the Privy Council Office
Privy Council Office (Canada)
In Canada the Privy Council Office is the secretariat of the federal cabinet, providing officially non-partisan advice and support to the Prime Minister and leadership, coordination, and support to the departments and agencies of the government...
on Canada's future involvement in Afghanistan subsequent to the elections. Her work has included assignments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Philippines. Before her most current post, Redford managed a judicial training and legal reform project for the Ministry of Justice and the Supreme People's Court in Vietnam.
Political career
Redford has been actively involved in both provincial and national politics since the 1980s. She served as Senior Policy Advisor to Joe ClarkJoe Clark
Charles Joseph "Joe" Clark, is a Canadian statesman, businessman, and university professor, and former journalist and politician...
, Secretary of State for External Affairs and in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada from 1988 to 1990. In this capacity, Redford organized a series of national foreign policy consultations facilitating public input on the Government of Canada's White Papers on Foreign Affairs and Defence. In the Canadian Parliament, she was also the Principal Legislative Advisor to the Secretary of State for External Affairs.
On March 13, 2008, after being elected MLA for the constituency of Calgary-Elbow
Calgary Elbow
Calgary-Elbow is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. Its current MLA is Alison Redford, a Progressive Conservative, who defeated incumbent Liberal candidate Craig Cheffins in the 2008 Alberta general election....
, Redford was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General by Premier Ed Stelmach
Ed Stelmach
Edward Michael "Ed" Stelmach, MLA is a Canadian politician and served as the 13th Premier of Alberta, Canada, from 2006 to 2011. The grandson of Ukrainian immigrants, Stelmach was born and raised on a farm near Lamont and speaks fluent Ukrainian. He spent his entire pre-political adult life as a...
. In addition, she also served as a member of the Agenda and Priorities Committee, the Treasury Board, and the Cabinet Policy Committee on Public Safety and Services. She resigned from the cabinet in early 2011 to devote herself to her campaign to succeed Stelmach as leader of the governing Progressive Conservative Party.
On October 2, 2011, Redford won the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership
Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011
The Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta leadership election, 2011 was prompted by Ed Stelmach's announcement that he would not be seeking re-election in the 28th general election and therefore would be resigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives...
, effectively making her premier-designate of the province of Alberta. Redford was sworn in as Alberta's 14th Premier at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on October 7, 2011.
Personal life
Redford has been an active member of many community boards, including the Lycee Louis Pasteur Society, the Heritage Park Foundation and the Calgary Winter Club. She previously served on the Board of the Lakeview Community Association and the Alberta Human Rights Education Advisory Board.Redford lives in Calgary with her husband Glen Jermyn and daughter Sarah.
Election results
| 2008 Alberta general election results ( Calgary-Elbow Calgary Elbow Calgary-Elbow is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, Canada. Its current MLA is Alison Redford, a Progressive Conservative, who defeated incumbent Liberal candidate Craig Cheffins in the 2008 Alberta general election.... ) |
font style="font-size: 90%;">Turnout 48.5% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Affiliation | Candidate | Votes | % |
Progressive Conservative | Alison Redford | 6,128 | 42% |
Liberal Alberta Liberal Party The Alberta Liberal Party is a provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. Originally founded in 1905, when the province was created, it was the dominant political party until 1921 when it was defeated. It has never been in government since that time... |
Craig Cheffins | 5,714 | 39% |
Wildrose Alliance Wildrose Alliance Party of Alberta The Wildrose Party, formerly Wildrose Alliance Party, is a conservative provincial political party in Alberta, Canada. It includes free market conservative, libertarian and socially conservative factions and was formed in 2008 following a merger of the Wildrose Party of Alberta and the Alberta... |
Dale Nelson | 961 | 7% |
Independent Independent (politician) In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do... |
Barry Erskine | 949 | 7% |
Green Green Party of Alberta The Green Party of Alberta, also known as the Alberta Greens, was a provincial political party in the province of Alberta, Canada.The Alberta Greens were formed in 1986 and received official party status on April 6, 1990... |
Jonathon Sheffield | 526 | 4% |
NDP Alberta New Democratic Party The Alberta New Democratic Party or Alberta NDP is a social-democratic political party in Alberta, Canada, which was originally founded as the Alberta section of the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation... |
Garnet G. Wilcox | 300 | 2% | |
| Total | 14,578 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||