Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has appointed a slightly smaller cabinet than before her election and included all of her re-elected party leadership rivals.
Smith’s new cabinet, appointed June 9, has 25 people including herself as minister of intergovernmental relations, two less than her first cabinet formed in October 2022. Many prominent ministers come from Calgary, as the NDP swept up all 20 seats from Edmonton.
“I am so pleased to have this team working with me to deliver on the promises we made to Albertans during the election,” Smith said in a news release.
“These are not just our government’s priorities, they are Albertans’ priorities. The next four years start today, and I can’t wait to get back to work with each of my cabinet colleagues.”
Brian Jean, Todd Loewen, Rebecca Schulz, and Rajan Sawhney all ran against Smith for the UCP leadership and were reappointed to cabinet. Jean in now energy minister, and Schultz was moved from municipal affairs to environment and protected areas. Sawhney became minister of advanced education, while Loewen remained minister of forestry and parks.
Calgary-West MLA Mike Ellis becomes deputy premier and minister of public safety and emergency services. Former agriculture minister Nate Horner becomes Treasury Board president and minister of finance. Calgary-Cross MLA Mickey Amery will put his juris doctorate degree in law to good use as minister of justice. Red Deer North MLA Adriana LaGrange shifts from education to become health minister. Calgary-Bow MLA Demetrios Nicolaides becomes minister of education, shifting from advanced education.
- RJ Sigurdson - Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
- Ric McIver - Minister of Municipal Affairs
- Dale Nally - Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction
- Pete Guthrie - Minister of Infrastructure
- Nathan Neudorf - Minister of Affordability and Utilities
- Dan Williams - Minister of Mental Health and Addiction
- Jason Nixon - Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services
- Joseph Schow - Minister of Tourism and Sport
- Matt Jones - Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade
- Searle Turton - Minister of Children and Family Services
- Devin Dreeshen - Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors
- Tanya Fir - Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women
- Nate Glubish - Minister of Technology and Innovation
- Rick Wilson - Minister of Indigenous Relations
- Muhammad Yaseen - Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism
Williams, Turton, and McIver are new to the cabinet. However, McIver has previous cabinet experience in municipal affairs, transportation, and infrastructure during Progressive Conservative governments.
The UCP won 49 seats in the May 29 election, a drop from the 63 the party won in 2019 under then-leader Jason Kenney.
Former finance minister Travis Toews and environment minister Sonya Savage did not run in the election. Former health minister Jason Copping and justice minister Tyler Shandro lost in Calgary, as did former deputy premier Kaycee Madu in Edmonton.
The ceremony began with the singing of O Canada, followed by prayer from a Cree Ceremonial chief, an Imam, and an Anglican minister.
