41 Facts About Alison Redford

Alison Redford was the 14th premier of Alberta, having served in this capacity from October 7,2011, to March 23,2014.

Alison Redford served in the cabinet of Ed Stelmach as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General.

Alison Redford became premier upon winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, and on April 23,2012, she led her party to victory in the 2012 provincial election.

Alison Redford is the first female premier in the province's history and the eighth woman to serve as a premier in the history of Canada.

On March 19,2014, Alison Redford announced that she would resign as premier of Alberta effective March 23,2014.

Alison Redford was succeeded by deputy premier Dave Hancock on an interim basis.

Alison Redford announced her resignation as an MLA on August 6,2014.

Alison Redford was born March 7,1965, in Kitimat, British Columbia, the daughter of Helen Kay and Merrill Alison Redford.

Alison Redford's mother was a Scottish immigrant, originally from Glasgow.

Alison Redford's family moved to Nova Scotia and Borneo, and to Calgary by the time Alison Redford was 12.

Alison Redford graduated from Bishop Carroll High School, Calgary, and from the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan in 1988.

Alison Redford served as an adviser to the Privy Council Office on Canada's future involvement in Afghanistan subsequent to the elections.

Alison Redford's work has included assignments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Namibia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Philippines.

Alison Redford is a past member of the Girl Guides of Canada and was featured in a museum exhibit about prominent Girl Guides at the Red Deer Museum and Art Gallery.

Alison Redford went on to work in the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada from 1988 to 1990, under Prime Minister Brian Mulroney.

In 2004, Alison Redford unsuccessfully challenged Member of Parliament Rob Anders for the federal Conservative nomination in Calgary West.

On March 13,2008, after being elected MLA for the constituency of Calgary-Elbow, Alison Redford was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General by Premier Ed Stelmach.

Alison Redford 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 February 16,2011, Alison Redford announced she would be a candidate in the Progressive Conservative Association leadership race to succeed Stelmach, who had announced in January he would resign as leader and premier once his successor was chosen.

Alison Redford was largely considered an outsider and had the support of only one MLA in her leadership campaign.

Alison Redford was sworn in as Alberta's 14th Premier at the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton on October 7,2011.

On March 26,2012, Alison Redford met with Lieutenant Governor Don Ethell, who dissolved the current legislature and called an election for April 23,2012.

Alison Redford promised to build, of which some have now opened, 50 new schools, and renovate 70 more over the next four years.

In 2013, after much public discussion following the dismissal of her chief of staff and the refusal to discuss his severance, Alison Redford announced the creation of a "sunshine list" - a public disclosure of salaries and severances for public sector workers in the highest levels of Alberta's public sector.

However, in 2013, the Alison Redford government tabled Bill 45 which increased fines for illegal strikes.

Alison Redford's attendance created a controversy when it was revealed the Alberta government covered the approximately $45,000 cost for her trip, including roughly $10,000 for a privately chartered flight to return to Alberta from South Africa for a swearing-in of the new Alberta Cabinet.

In mid-March 2014, Alison Redford repaid the costs of the Mandela funeral trip and apologized.

Critics pointed out that Alison Redford's staff had high salaries, including her chief of staff who earned more than his counterparts who worked for the Canadian Prime Minister or US President.

On March 19,2014, Alison Redford announced she would resign as premier of Alberta, effective March 23,2014.

Alison Redford was succeeded by deputy premier Dave Hancock as the interim party leader and premier until Jim Prentice was chosen as a successor at a leadership election, which was the Progressive Conservative Party's third contest in eight years.

On March 28,2014, it was reported that Alison Redford had ordered a private penthouse for herself and her daughter in a government building close to the Legislature, to be constructed by the provincial government.

In May 2014 it was revealed that Alison Redford was assigned a personal protective security detail from the Calgary Police Service, at a forecast of $1.8M over budget.

Heavily redacted documents obtained by the media gave no evidence as to what rationale Alison Redford had for the additional security detail, which provided security to Alison Redford and her family in Calgary, Canmore and Banff.

Alison Redford's extended absence caused speculation when no official statement was forthcoming from the interim Premier as to her whereabouts or reasons for not attending.

Speculation was heightened further when Alison Redford was spotted in the resort town of Palm Springs, California during her absence.

Alison Redford added that she and her family will continue to live in Alberta and that she plans to teach as well as resume her work in international development and public policy.

Alison Redford returned to the Legislature and the back benches on May 5,2014.

Alison Redford's resignation was tendered in the form of a letter published in Edmonton and Calgary newspapers on May 30,2014.

In November 2017, Alison Redford took a position as a policy advisor in Kabul to the government of Afghanistan to help reform its Ministry of Mines and Petroleum and help the country develop its natural resources.

Alison Redford said that her priorities were restoring the power grid and attracting international investment.

In July 2015, Alison Redford revealed that following her resignation, she no longer belongs to any political party.