By Medicine Hat News on May 1, 2019.
Alberta’s new premier, Jason Kenney, and his cabinet were sworn in on Tuesday to form the first United Conservative government in the province. Of the 22 ministers and associate ministers, seven are women, 15 are newly elected, 15 are in Calgary or the surrounding area, five are in Edmonton and the surrounding area, one is from Grande Prairie and one from Taber-Warner. 1. Advanced Education – Demetrios Nicolaides, newly elected Calgary-Bow, mediator with a PhD in this field. 2. Agriculture & Forestry – Devin Dreeshen, first elected by-election 2018 Innisfail-Sylvan Lake, farmer and director of Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association. 3. Children’s Services – Rebecca Shulz, newly elected Calgary-Shaw, communications professional. 4. Community & Social Services – Rajan Sawhney, newly elected Calgary-North East, senior professional in the oil and gas industry. 5. Culture, Multiculturalism & Status of Women – Leela Aheer, first elected 2015 and re-elected recently Chestermere-Strathmore, drama/music teacher and entrepreneur. 6. Economic Development, Trade & Tourism – Tanya Fir newly elected Calgary-Peigan, human resources advisor in oil and gas industry. 7. Education – Adriana LaGrange newly elected Red Deer North, career helping those with physical and mental disabilities. 8. Energy – Sonya Savage newly elected Calgary-North West., lawyer oil and gas industry. 9. Environment & Parks – Jason Nixon first elected in 2015 Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre, experience in not-for profit sector. 10. Health – Tyler Shandro newly elected Calgary-Acadia, member of National Parole Board and Municipal Government Board. 11. Indigenous relations – Rick Wilson newly elected Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin, county councillor and former chair of a regional health authority. 12. Infrastructure – Prasad Panda first elected in 2015 Calgary-Foothills and recently Calgary Edgemont, engineer. 13. Justice & Solicitor General – Doug Schweitzer newly elected Calgary-Elbow, restructuring and bankruptcy lawyer who ran for the leadership of the UCP against Jason Kenney. 14. Labour & Immigration – Jason Copping newly elected Calgary-Varsity, senior management labour relations, human resources and corporate affairs. 15. Municipal Affairs – Kaycee Madu newly elected Edmonton-South West, lawyer and a senior technical advisor for Alberta government. 16. Seniors & Housing – Josephine Pon newly elected Calgary-Beddington., experience in banking and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. 17. Service Alberta – Nate Glubish newly elected Strathcona-Sherwood Park, school teacher. 18. Transportation – Ric McIver first elected in 2012 Calgary-Hays, was Minister of Transportation under a previous government. 19. Treasury Board President and Finance – Travis Toews newly elected Grande Prairie-Wapiti, accountancy experience and holds CPA and CMA designations. 20. Associate Minister for Mental Health and Addictions – Jason Luan first elected 2012 Calgary Hawkwood, re-elected recently Calgary-Foothills, provincial and municipal governments social worker. 21. Associate Minister of Natural Gas – Dale Nally newly elected Morinville-St. Albert, private sector business management. 22. Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction – Grant Hunter first elected in 2015 Cardston-Taber-Warner, recently Taber-Warner, owned and operated his own commercial/residential construction company. 25