Premier Jason Kenney of the UCP was sworn in today as the 18th Alberta premier.
At the Government House in Edmonton this morning (Tuesday, April 30) Kenney was sworn in by Lieut. Governor Lois Mitchell in a ceremony that is "focused on getting to work on day one" with Kenney said to be launching the UCP strategy to "get Albertans back to work" later today.
The slate of 22, headed by Kenney who will also serve as Minister of Intergovernmental Relations, includes seven women and has a median age of 43, with most new to public service.
“This is a young, energetic and diverse team with deep experience. With an average age of 43, most members of this cabinet are new to public service," said Kenney in a recent press release.
"They ran for all of the right reasons: because they want to work hard to reverse years of economic decline and stagnation, and to get our economy moving again. This is a team that will be obsessed with creating jobs, showing the world that Alberta is open for business again, and fighting for a fair deal in Canada.”
Pete Guthrie, one of 63 UCP MLAs elected just two weeks ago, was not appointed to a cabinet position but is celebrating the mobilization of the new conservative government – a culmination of three years since the path began to pave for the dissolve of the former PC dynasty and Wildrose, to set aside differences and come together as a consolidated front to unseat the Notley government in 2019.
"This a cabinet that is prepared to take on the difficult challenges that lie ahead," said Guthrie. "They will be focused on jobs and revitalizing our economy."
Kenney is touting the new government as "one of the most youthful in Canada" with an emphasis on the chosen slate as reflective of a commitment to multiculturalism with 13 languages spoken and for the first time, a dedicated minister of multiculturalism (Leela Aheer, MLA of Chestermere-Rocky View).
Cabinet ministers appointed:
- 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
- Jason Luan, Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
- Dale Nally, Associate Minister of Natural Gas
- Grant Hunter, Associate Minister of Red Tape
- 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
- Muhammad Yaseen, Parliamentary Secretary of Immigration
