Jason Kenney Officially Sworn in as Alberta’s 18th Premier; Names First Cabinet

Jason Kenney, Alberta's premier-designate and leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP), meets with the media in front of the Legislature Building in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on April 17, 2019. Candace Elliott/Reuters

EDMONTON—Former federal cabinet minister Jason Kenney has been officially sworn in as Alberta’s premier along with members of his first cabinet.

The United Conservative leader becomes the 18th person to head the province’s government.

Canada's Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, Jason Kenney (C) addresses media during a press confrence at a hotel in Amritsar on January 11, 2013. Narinder Nanu/AFP/Getty Images

Travis Toews, a rookie member of the legislature from Grande Prairie-Wapiti, is the new finance minister.

Toews was a chartered accountant and rancher before getting into politics.

Calgary lawyer Doug Schweitzer, who ran against Kenney for the UCP leadership, is the new minister of justice.

Veteran legislature members Ric McIver and Jason Nixon have also been given cabinet posts—McIver in transportation and Nixon in the key environment and parks portfolio.

Calgary lawyer Sonya Savage is the new energy minister and Red Deer Catholic school trustee Adriana Lagrange is the new education minister.

Kenney’s UCP defeated the New Democrats in the provincial election April 16 when the party won 63 seats to the NDP’s 24.

Former premier Rachel Notley has promised to stay on as Opposition leader and will have an experienced caucus that includes 12 former cabinet ministers.

A new session of the legislature is to begin later in May.