(Lethbridge News Now)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

shuffled

Local MLAs earn spots on Smith’s new cabinet, committees

Oct 21, 2022 | 12:07 PM

Local MLAs will occupy seats at Premier Danielle Smith’s new cabinet table, after Smith announced her full ministerial team Friday morning.

Ministers will be sworn in on Monday, Oct. 24.

“I am thrilled to being working with this strong, determined, united group of MLAs. Alberta’s future is bright – but there’s a lot of work to be done,” says Premier Smith. “Our team will work every day to gain your trust, make bold changes and continue to build the most innovative, entrepreneurial and welcoming province in the world. I want to thank our entire team for their tireless dedication to Albertans and we’re looking forward to the days ahead.”

Red Deer-North MLA Adriana LaGrange remains Education Minister. She has held that post since the 2019 election when Jason Kenney became premier.

“I am honoUred to be continuing in my role as Minister of Education. Ensuring our children receive the best education possible continues to be my top priority,” says LaGrange. “I know I share that goal with our entire education system, including Alberta’s teachers, Principals and Superintendents, Trustees, support staff and parents. I look forward to working with Premier Smith and my cabinet and caucus colleagues to advance our commitments in serving the best interests of Albertans.”

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Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Devin Dreeshen returns to cabinet as Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister. Dreeshen resigned from his cabinet post at the Ministry Agriculture and Forestry in late 2021 amid concerns about excessive drinking in the workplace. Dreeshen will also serve as a member of the Treasury Board.

“I’m honoured to be part of this new cabinet, especially when you look at the next six to eight months, which is when we really need to show and demonstrate to Albertans that we’re a competent government, that we have our stuff together, and we’re putting out good conservative ideas going into that election. It’s really important for us to refocus as a government,” said Dreeshen, also asked about how he’s grown personally since stepping down last year.

“A lot has changed over the year, and I’m really humbled and honoured by the support and confidence the people in my riding have given me. I’m going to do my best to live up to those expectations.”

Dreeshen says much of his conversation with Smith so far centred on his work in Ottawa under the Harper government, and having a good understanding of those corridors and trade relationships.

He adds that on the transportation file, the province can’t grow without adequate roads and infrastructure.

Also, Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr is out as Culture Minister. He is to be replaced by Jason Luan.

Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin MLA Rick Wilson is also keeping his post as Minister of Indigenous Relations, and the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation will be Nate Horner, MLA for Drumheller-Stettler.

Jason Nixon, MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre is moved out of cabinet and will chair the Economy and Affordability Cabinet Policy Committee.

Meantime, Red Deer-South MLA Jason Stephan will chair the Legislative Review Committee.

“I look forward to serving as the chair of the Legislative Review Committee,” says Stephan. “We need the wording of law to be precise so as to avoid inadvertent loopholes for abuses or unintended uses. Our committee’s work is to make sure that wording of a law aligns with the spirit and intent of the purpose for the law. We want our laws to be as good as possible.”

The full cabinet list:

• Deputy Premier and Minister of Skilled Trades and Professions – Kaycee Madu
• Deputy Premier and Minister of Infrastructure – Nathan Neudorf
• President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance – Travis Toews
• Minister of Jobs, Economy and Northern Development – Brian Jean
• Minister of Justice – Tyler Shandro
• Minister of Health – Jason Copping
• Minister of Energy – Pete Guthrie
• Minister of Environment and Protected Areas – Sonya Savage
• Minister of Technology and Innovation – Nate Glubish
• Minister of Affordability and Utilities – Matt Jones
• Minister of Municipal Affairs – Rebecca Schulz
• Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors – Devin Dreeshen
• Minister of Public Safety – Mike Ellis
• Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation – Nate Horner
• Minister of Forestry, Parks and Tourism – Todd Loewen
• Minister of Trade, Immigration and Multiculturalism – Rajan Sawhney
• Minister of Education – Adriana LaGrange
• Minister of Advanced Education – Demetrios Nicolaides
• Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction – Dale Nally
• Minister of Indigenous Relations – Rick Wilson
• Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services – Jeremy Nixon
• Minister of Children’s Services – Mickey Amery
• Minister of Mental Health and Addictions – Nicholas Milliken
• Minister of Culture – Jason Luan

Caucus leadership positions will include:

• Whip (Minister without portfolio) – Brad Rutherford
• House Leader (Minister without portfolio) – Joseph Schow
• Deputy House Leaders – Kaycee Madu, Mickey Amery, David Hanson

Ministers will be assisted in their work by the following parliamentary secretaries:

• Parliamentary Secretary for Ukrainian Refugee Settlement – Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk
• Parliamentary Secretary for EMS Reform – RJ Sigurdson
• Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health – Tany Yao
• Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridors – Shane Getson
• Parliamentary Secretary for Tourism – Miranda Rosin
• Parliamentary Secretary for Agrifood Development – Glenn van Dijken
• Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism – Devinder Toor
• Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women – Tanya Fir
• Parliamentary Secretary for Community Outreach – Muhammad Yaseen
• Parliamentary Secretary for Procurement Transformation – David Hanson
• Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business – Martin Long

New government committees will be chaired by:

• Economy and Affordability Cabinet Policy Committee – Jason Nixon
• Alberta First Cabinet Policy Committee – Garth Rowswell
• Social Services Cabinet Policy Committee – Searle Turton
• Building Communities Cabinet Policy Committee – Pat Rehn
• Legislative Review Committee Chair – Jason Stephan

Treasury Board members will include:

• Travis Toews
• Matt Jones
• Nate Glubish
• Rebecca Schulz
• Devin Dreeshen
• Jordan Walker
• Rick Wilson
• Nathan Neudorf
• Pete Guthrie

“Today’s changes to Danielle Smith’s cabinet will mean very little to Albertans, urban or rural. The UCP has inflicted chaos, conflict and costs onto families and businesses, and nothing in this cabinet suggests any change from that,” says NDP Leader Rachel Notley.

“Alberta’s NDP is focused on addressing the real issues in Albertans’ lives like getting through the worst affordability crisis in 40 years, repairing our healthcare system, and building a resilient jobs economy.”