Legislature building packed for swearing-in ceremony
Alison Redford has officially been sworn in as the 14th premier of Alberta, and the first woman premier of the province.
Redford delivered a heartfelt speech to a packed Legislature building in Edmonton after being sworn in on Friday morning.
“The only shadow on today is my mom, who’s not here to see it,” Redford said. Her mother, Helen Redford, died Sept. 27, four days before the Progressive Conservative Party of Alberta (PC) chose Redford as their new leader.Alison Redford makes a speech at the Legislature building in Edmonton, Alta., after being sworn in as the province’s 14th premier on Oct. 7.
Photo by: Aaron Taylor
Redford went on to thank her daughter for all of her support and wisdom that is “beyond her years.”
Much has been made of the fact that Redford is Alberta’s first female premier, but she downplayed the accomplishment.
“I think what happened here is that Alberta’s politics caught up with where Albertans already are,” Redford said.
Liberal opposition leader Raj Sherman noted the diversity in Alberta politics.
“We have two bright women as fantastic leaders of the PC and the Wildrose parties,” he said.
Redford defeated Gary Mar on a preferential second ballot last weekend to win leadership of the party.
“I think you can see a lot of unity coming out of that,” said third place finisher Doug Horner.
Redford is set to name her cabinet Wednesday.
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Reporter Aaron Taylor is a journalism student in the diploma program at Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton, Alta. The West Edmonton Local is their program’s publication.