Jason Kenney officially sworn in as Alberta’s 18th premier

Kenney noted that Alberta’s new government is one of the most youthful in Canada, with a strong mandate to represent all Albertans.

Diversity is reflected through 13 different languages spoken by ministers and, for the first time, Alberta will have a minister responsible for Multiculturalism, as well as a dedicated parliamentary secretary.

“Many of the ministers appointed are Albertans by choice and not chance, having immigrated to this province because they saw it as a land of opportunity that they now seek to serve. Alberta’s new cabinet includes farmers, teachers, tradespeople, small business owners, lawyers, business executives, musicians, oil and gas experts, public servants and a range of other professional backgrounds. These ministers are in touch with the lives of the people they will be serving.”

The average age of the new Cabinet miniters is 43, and most are new to public service. However, the new Premier is confident they want to work hard to reverse years of economic decline and stagnation, and to get our economy moving again. He says the team is will be obsessed with creating jobs, showing the world that Alberta is open for business again, and fighting for a fair deal in Canada.

He has said that there will be a new department and minister tasked to working with stakeholders and other departments to cut administrative red tape by one-third over the next four years.

Ministers

Premier Jason Kenney, President of Executive Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations
Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry
Rebecca Shulz, Minister of Children’s Services
Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Community and Social Services
Leela Aheer, Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women
Tanya Fir, Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism
Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education
Sonya Savage, Minister of Energy
Jason Nixon, Minister of Environment and Parks
Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health
Rick Wilson, Minister of Indigenous Relations
Prasad Panda, Minister of Infrastructure
Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Justice and Solicitor General
Jason Copping, Minister of Labour and Immigration
Kaycee Madu, Minister of Municipal Affairs
Josephine Pon, Minister of Seniors and Housing
Nate Glubish, Minister of Service Alberta
Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation
Travis Toews, President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance

Associate Ministers

Jason Luan, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
Dale Nally, Associate Minister of Natural Gas
Grant Hunter, Associate Minister of Red Tape

Parliamentary Secretary

Muhammad Yaseen, Parliamentary Secretary of Immigration

Major non-cabinet assignments

Jason Nixon, House Leader
Doug Schweitzer, Deputy House Leader
Ric McIver, Deputy House Leader
Sonya Savage, Deputy House Leader
Mike Ellis, Whip
Joseph Schow, Deputy Whip

Kenney has promised his government’s first piece of legislation will be to repeal a carbon tax the NDP brought in.

The ceremony at Government House in Edmonton marks the formal end of the four-year NDP government under former premier Rachel Notley.

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

Notley has promised to stay on as Opposition leader and will have an experienced caucus that includes 12 former cabinet ministers. Full biographies for Alberta’s new cabinet can be found on https://www.alberta.ca/premier-cabinet.aspx

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

by Justin Goulet

Jason Kenney officially sworn in as Alberta’s 18th premier

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