Martin Long is sworn in as minister of infrastructure on Thursday at a ceremony in Edmonton.--PHOTO COURTESY GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA
@MedicineHatNews
Premier Danielle Smith did not take to long to find her new infrastructure minister, choosing Martin Long, the MLA for West-Yellowhead, to replace Petrie Guthrie, who resigned this week citing concerns with how the AHS procurement scandal is being handled.
Long was sworn in a ceremony with the premier on Thursday. Long has served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business and Tourism in the former Jobs, Economy and Innovation ministry, Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business in Jobs, Economy and Trade, and most recently as the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health.
“I am pleased to welcome Martin to Alberta’s cabinet,” Smith said in a statement. “He is an extremely hard worker and I have full confidence in his ability to work with me and our cabinet colleagues to deliver on our government’s priorities, focusing on keeping our province the best place in Canada to live, work and raise a family.”
Long, who was first elected in 2019, says he is excited to take on the role.
“I’m honoured to take on the role of minister of infrastructure,” Long said. “Our province is growing and it’s an exciting time to lead a ministry that will continue building infrastructure to meet the needs of Albertans today and for the future.”
Budget 2025’s Capital Plan, the province boasts, will invest $26.1 billion across Alberta over the next three years, an increase of $1.1 billion from last year. Of that amount, $2.6 billion will go toward new schools and modernization projects.
