The swearing-in ceremony at the Government House in Edmonton. (Government of Alberta)

By David Opinko

Alberta Government announces several cabinet shuffles

Jul 8, 2021 | 10:26 AM

EDMONTON, AB – Albertans will be lead by a few new people.

In a ceremony in Edmonton Thursday morning, Premier Jason Kenney announced several changes to the provincial cabinet, moving some existing cabinet members to new portfolios and welcoming six new MLAs to higher-ranking positions.

“Alberta is leading Canada out of the COVID-19 pandemic and into strong economic growth,” says Kenney. “This renewal of our cabinet will support Alberta’s Recovery Plan, a plan to build, to diversify the economy, and to create jobs. With six new voices and strong, experienced ministers moving into important economic roles, Alberta’s government is ready to deliver a strong recovery for all Albertans.”

The changes to cabinet are as follows:

• Rajan Sawhney
  • MLA for Calgary-North East and currently the Minister of Community and Social Services
  • Now becomes the Minister of Transportation.
  • She will deliver on Alberta’s historic Capital Plan investment of $20.3 billion over the next three years, including Alberta’s $1.53-billion investment in Calgary’s Green Line LRT project, which will create 90,000 new jobs.
• Tanya Fir
  • MLA for Calgary-Peigan
  • Now becomes Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction.
  • She will continue to deliver on Alberta’s aggressive efforts to eliminate burdensome regulations, improve small business competitiveness and get Alberta’s economy moving.
• Nate Horner
  • MLA for Drumheller-Stettler
  • Now becomes Associate Minister of Rural Economic Development, under the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Innovation.
  • He will support Minister Doug Schweitzer in making sure Alberta’s Recovery Plan delivers results for rural and remote Alberta communities, working across government on important strategic initiatives such as expanding rural broadband internet and irrigation networks.
• Muhammad Yaseen
  • MLA for Calgary-North
  • Now becomes Associate Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, under the Ministry of Labour and Immigration.
  • He will work with Minister Jason Copping in rolling out the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program and the Fairness for Newcomers Action Plan. He will also be tasked with reaching out to ethnic and faith communities and working across government to address recent attacks on vulnerable individuals and communities.
• Whitney Issik
  • MLA for Calgary-Glenmore
  • Now becomes the Associate Minister of Status of Women, under the Ministry of Culture and Status of Women, and the chief government whip.
  • She will work to ensure that women are a driving force in Alberta’s economic recovery, recognizing the disproportionate impact of the global COVID-19 recession on women.
• Ron Orr
  • MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka
  • Now becomes the Minister of Culture.
  • He will focus on helping Alberta’s arts and culture organizations recover from the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 while implementing an Alberta Identity Strategy that will address recommendation 25 of the Fair Deal Panel to “affirm Alberta’s cultural, economic and political uniqueness in law and government policy.”
• Mike Ellis
  • MLA for Calgary-West and currently the chief government whip
  • Now becomes Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
  • He will continue to implement Alberta’s recovery-oriented systems of care model across the province.
• Jason Luan
  • MLA for Calgary-Foothills and currently the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
  • Now becomes the Minister of Community and Social Services.
  • He will focus on delivering supports for vulnerable Albertans as they emerge from COVID-19, helping to bridge unemployed and underemployed Albertans into good jobs.

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The province also made two non-ministry changes:

• Joseph Schow
  • MLA for Cardston-Siksika and currently the deputy government whip
  • Now becomes deputy government house leader.
• Brad Rutherford
  • MLA for Leduc-Beaumont
  • Now becomes deputy government whip.

The swearing-in ceremony can be viewed below: