The Best of Alberta Politics is voted on by readers of Daveberta.ca.
Congratulations to all the winners and thank you to everyone who voted in the surveys. There is a lot of negativity in politics, so I started the annual Best of Alberta Politics survey back in 2017 as a way to give followers of provincial politics a chance to recognize and reward some of the best people involved in Alberta politics.
Best Alberta MLA
2023: Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
2022: Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
2021: Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
2020: Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
2019: Rachel Notley, Leader of the Official Opposition and MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona
2018: Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta and MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona
2017: Rachel Notley, Premier of Alberta and MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona
Best Cabinet Minister
2023: Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Advanced Education
2022: Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism
2021: Leela Aheer, Minister of Culture,Multiculturalism and Status of Women
2020: None
2019: Sarah Hoffman, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health, and MLA for Edmonton-Glenora
2018: Shaye Anderson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and MLA for Leduc-Beaumont
2017: David Eggen, Minister of Education and MLA for Edmonton-Calder
Best Opposition MLA
2023: Rachel Notley, Leader of the Official Opposition and MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona
2022: Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
2021: Rachel Notley, Leader of the Official Opposition and MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona
2020: Rachel Notley, Leader of the Official Opposition and MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona
2019: Rachel Notley, Leader of the Official Opposition and MLA for Edmonton-Strathcona
2018: Greg Clark, MLA for Calgary-Elbow
2017: Greg Clark, MLA for Calgary-Elbow
Up and comer to watch
2023: Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse, MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford
2022: Rakhi Pancholi, MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud
2021: Rakhi Pancholi, MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud
2020: Rakhi Pancholi, MLA for Edmonton-Whitemud
2019: Janis Irwin, MLA for Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
2018: Jessica Littlewood, MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville
2017: David Shepherd, MLA for Edmonton-Centre
Biggest Issue
2023: Affordability and cost of living
2022: The crisis in the health care system
2021: COVID-19 pandemic
2020: COVID-19 pandemic
2019: Budget cuts
2018: Pipelines, oil, and the economy
2017: The economy and jobs
Best political play
2023: The Strategists winning Best political play of 2023
2022: Jason Kenney losing the United Conservative Party leadership
2021: Jyoti Gondek’s election as Mayor of Calgary
2020: UCP’s fight with Alberta’s Doctors
2019: The firing of Election Commissioner Lorne Gibson
2018: Draw (some variation of pipelines and oil industry actions)
2017: The formation of the United Conservative Party
Special Categories
Albertan most likely to be a future Premier
2020: Don Iveson and Naheed Nenshi (tie)
Best candidate who didn’t win in the 2019 election
2023: Karen Shaw, NDP candidate in Morinville-St. Albert
2019: Danielle Larivee, NDP candidate in Lesser Slave Lake
New candidate to watch
2023: Brooks Arcand-Paul, NDP candidate in Edmonton-West Henday
2018: Janis Irwin, NDP candidate in Edmonton-Highlands-Norwood
Past award winners
