Smith ministry
Smith ministry | |
|---|---|
 19th ministry of Alberta | |
 Danielle Smith in 2014 | |
| Date formed | October 11, 2022 |
| People and organisations | |
| Monarch | Charles III |
| Lieutenant Governor | Salma Lakhani |
| Premier | Danielle Smith |
| Premier's history | Premiership of Danielle Smith |
| Member party | United Conservative Party |
| Status in legislature | Majority |
| Opposition party | New Democratic Party |
| Opposition leader | Rachel Notley Christina Gray |
| History | |
| Election | 2023 |
| Legislature terms | 30th Alberta Legislature 31st Alberta Legislature |
| Incoming formation | 2022 United Conservative Party leadership election |
| Predecessor | Kenney Ministry |
The Smith ministry is the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of Alberta), chaired by 19th Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith, that has governed Alberta since October 11, 2022. The Cabinet consists of members of the United Conservative Party, which holds a majority of the seats in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.
The Smith Ministry replaced the Kenney Ministry, following the 2022 United Conservative Party leadership election.[1]
Cabinet composition
[edit]Initial Cabinet (October 2022–June 2023)
[edit]On October 21, 2022, Smith's inaugural cabinet was sworn in. It consisted of 25 ministers,[2] the largest for a new premier's Cabinet in Alberta's history, an increase over Jason Kenney's initial Cabinet of 23 ministers.[3] Five of the six rivals that Smith faced for the leadership were included in cabinet: Travis Toews was named finance minister; Brian Jean was appointed to a revamped ministry of jobs, economy and northern development; Todd Loewen headed a newly combined ministry of forestry, parks and tourism; Rebecca Schulz gained municipal affairs; and Rajan Sawhney took the ministry of trade, immigration and multiculturalism. Leela Aheer, who placed seventh, did not join cabinet. Adriana LaGrange, Demetrios Nicolaides and Tyler Shandro retained their portfolios from the Kenney Ministry, while Tanya Fir, Whitney Issik, Ric McIver, Jason Nixon and Prasad Panda were dropped entirely. The labour and housing ministries were eliminated. The number of female cabinet ministers dropped from eight to five.[4]
Post-2023 election Cabinet shuffle (June 2023–May 2025)
[edit]On June 9, 2023, Smith shuffled her cabinet following the May 2023 election, which returned a smaller United Conservative Party majority government. Incumbent ministers Kaycee Madu, Nicholas Milliken, Jeremy Nixon, Jason Copping, Josephine Pon, Jason Luan, and Tyler Shandro were defeated in the election. Among the changes in the shuffle, Nate Horner was appointed the new minister of finance, Mickey Amery the new justice minister, and Mike Ellis was named deputy premier. Amery was the first Muslim to be justice minister. RJ Sigurdson, Searle Turton and Dan Williams joined cabinet for the first time, while Fir, McIver and Muhammad Yaseen returned to cabinet. The number of women ministers remained stable at five.[5][6]
On February 25, 2025, Peter Guthrie resigned as Minister of Infrastructure, citing concerns over the government's procurement practices.[7]
2025 Cabinet shuffle (May 2025–present)
[edit]On May 13, 2025, Municipal Affairs Minister Ric McIver resigned and was subsequently elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta.[8]
On May 16, 2025, Smith announced a cabinet shuffle. The cabinet totalled 25 ministers, two associate ministers and eight parliamentary secretaries in a non-cabinet role. Myles McDougall was appointed Minister of Advanced Education, Rajan Sawhney as Minister of Indigenous Relations, and Joseph Schow overseeing Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration. Rick Wilson assumed the Mental Health and Addiction portfolio, Dan Williams became Minister of Municipal Affairs, and Andrew Boitchenko took on Tourism and Sport. The Ministry of Health was split, with Matt Jones taking on Hospital and Surgical Health Services and Adriana LaGrange was named Minister of Primary and Preventive Health Services. Two titles were adjusted, with Demetrios Nicolaides named the Minister of Education and Childcare and Jason Nixon named Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services.[9][10]
List of ministers
[edit]| Portfolio | Minister | Tenure | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Start | End | ||
| Premier of Alberta | Danielle Smith | October 11, 2022 | Present |
| Deputy Premier of Alberta | Kaycee Madu | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Nathan Neudorf | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 | |
| Mike Ellis | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Advanced Education | Demetrios Nicolaides | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Rajan Sawhney | June 9, 2023 | May 16, 2025 | |
| Myles McDougall | May 16, 2025 | Present | |
| Minister of Affordability and Utilities | Matt Jones | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Nathan Neudorf | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation | Nate Horner | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| RJ Sigurdson | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Children and Family Services[a] | Mickey Amery | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Searle Turton | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women[b] | Jason Luan | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Tanya Fir | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Education and Childcare[c] | Adriana LaGrange | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Demetrios Nicolaides | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Energy and Minerals[d] | Peter Guthrie | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Brian Jean | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Environment and Protected Areas | Sonya Savage | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Rebecca Schulz | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board | Travis Toews | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Nate Horner | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Forestry and Parks[e] | Todd Loewen | October 21, 2022 | Present |
| Minister of Health | Jason Copping | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Adriana LaGrange | June 9, 2023 | May 16, 2025[f] | |
| Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services | Matt Jones | May 16, 2025[f] | Present |
| Minister of Primary and Preventive Health Services | Adriana LaGrange | May 16, 2025[f] | Present |
| Minister of Indigenous Relations | Rick Wilson | October 21, 2022 | May 16, 2025 |
| Rajan Sawhney | May 16, 2025 | Present | |
| Minister of Infrastructure | Peter Guthrie | June 9, 2023 | February 25, 2025 |
| Martin Long[11] | February 27, 2025 | Present | |
| Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade[g] | Brian Jean | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Matt Jones | June 9, 2023 | May 16, 2025 | |
| Joseph Schow | May 16, 2025 | Present | |
| Minister of Justice | Tyler Shandro | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Mickey Amery | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Mental Health and Addictions | Nicholas Milliken | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Dan Williams | June 9, 2023 | May 16, 2025 | |
| Rick Wilson | May 16, 2025 | Present | |
| Minister of Municipal Affairs | Rebecca Schulz | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Ric McIver | June 9, 2023 | May 13, 2025 | |
| Dan Williams | May 16, 2025 | Present | |
| Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services[h] | Mike Ellis | October 21, 2022 | Present |
| Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services[i] | Jeremy Nixon | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Jason Nixon | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction | Dale Nally | October 21, 2022 | Present |
| Minister of Technology and Innovation | Nate Glubish | October 21, 2022 | Present |
| Minister of Tourism and Sport | Joseph Schow | June 9, 2023 | May 16, 2025 |
| Andrew Boitchenko | May 16, 2025 | Present | |
| Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism[j] | Rajan Sawhney | October 21, 2022 | June 9, 2023 |
| Muhammad Yaseen | June 9, 2023 | Present | |
| Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors | Devin Dreeshen | October 21, 2022 | Present |
Notes
[edit]- ^ "Children's Services" from October 11, 2022 to June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Culture" from October 11, 2022 to June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Education" until May 16, 2025
- ^ "Energy" from October 11, 2022 to June 9, 2023
- ^ "Forestry, Parks and Tourism" from October 11, 2022 to June 9, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Health" split into "Hospital and Surgical Health Services" and "Primary and Preventive Health Services"
- ^ "Jobs, Economy and Northern Development" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Public Safety" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Seniors, Community and Social Services" until May 16, 2025
- ^ "Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism" from October 11, 2022 to June 9, 2023.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Black, Matthew (October 12, 2022). "Smith stresses fight versus Ottawa, party unity after becoming Alberta's 19th premier". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ Tait, Carrie (October 24, 2022). "Alberta Premier says larger cabinet is necessary to diversify the economy as new ministers sworn in". The Globe and Mail. Calgary.
- ^ Ferguson, Eva (April 30, 2019). "Kenney appoints new cabinet with more than half representing Calgary ridings". Calgary Herald.
- ^ French, Janet (October 21, 2022). "New Alberta cabinet includes familiar faces in prominent portfolios". CBC News. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
- ^ Bellefontaine, Michelle (June 9, 2023). "Alberta Premier Danielle Smith appoints 24 ministers to new cabinet". CBC News.
- ^ Amato, Sean (June 9, 2023). "Premier Smith appoints new Alberta cabinet with many familiar faces in different portfolios". CTV News. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
- ^ Franklin, Michael (February 25, 2025). "Alberta MLA Peter Guthrie quits cabinet, citing concerns over procurement". CTV News.
- ^ Black, Matthew (May 13, 2025). "Ric McIver elected as new Alberta Speaker hours after resigning from cabinet". Edmonton Journal.
- ^ Casten, Darlene (May 16, 2025). "Complete list of Alberta's new cabinet ministers". Calgary Herald.
- ^ French, Janet (May 16, 2025). "Alberta premier shuffles cabinet, splits health portfolio". CBC News.
- ^ The Canadian Press (February 28, 2025). "Alberta government appoints Martin Long as new infrastructure minister". CityNews Calgary. Retrieved April 24, 2025.