Smith 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

Initial Cabinet (October 2022–June 2023)

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)

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–May 2026)

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]

2026 Cabinet shuffle (May 2026–present)

In May 2026, Cabinet ministers Matt Jones and Nate Horner resigned. Horner was replaced by Jason Nixon as finance minister, Jones was replaced by Adriana LaGrange, Justin Wright and Tara Sawyer entered Cabinet, and RJ Sigurdson and Nathan Neudorf were given new portfolios.

List of ministers

Notes

1. ^ "Children's Services" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.
2. ^ "Culture" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.
3. ^ "Education" until May 16, 2025
4. ^ "Energy" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023
5. ^ "Forestry, Parks and Tourism" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.
6. ^ "Health" split into "Hospital and Surgical Health Services" and "Primary and Preventive Health Services"
7. ^ "Jobs, Economy and Northern Development" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.
8. ^ "Public Safety" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.
9. ^ "Seniors, Community and Social Services" until May 16, 2025
10. ^ "Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism" from October 11, 2022, to June 9, 2023.

See also

• Executive Council of Alberta
• List of Alberta provincial ministers

References

1. ^ Black, Matthew (2022-10-12). "Smith stresses fight versus Ottawa, party unity after becoming Alberta's 19th premier". Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
2. ^ 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
3. ^ Ferguson, Eva (April 30, 2019). "Kenney appoints new cabinet with more than half representing Calgary ridings". Calgary Herald
4. ^ French, Janet (2022-10-21). "New Alberta cabinet includes familiar faces in prominent portfolios". CBC News. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
5. ^ Bellefontaine, Michelle (2023-06-09). "Alberta Premier Danielle Smith appoints 24 ministers to new cabinet". CBC News
6. ^ Amato, Sean (2023-06-09). "Premier Smith appoints new Alberta cabinet with many familiar faces in different portfolios". CTV News. Retrieved 2023-06-23.
7. ^ Franklin, Michael (February 25, 2025). "Alberta MLA Peter Guthrie quits cabinet, citing concerns over procurement". CTV News
8. ^ Black, Matthew (May 13, 2025). "Ric McIver elected as new Alberta Speaker hours after resigning from cabinet". Edmonton Journal
9. ^ Casten, Darlene (May 16, 2025). "Complete list of Alberta's new cabinet ministers". Calgary Herald
10. ^ French, Janet (May 16, 2025). "Alberta premier shuffles cabinet, splits health portfolio". CBC News
11. ^ "Member Information". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved 2026-01-05.
12. ^ The Canadian Press (2025-02-28). "Alberta government appoints Martin Long as new infrastructure minister". CityNews Calgary. Retrieved 2025-04-24.

External links

• Official website