Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is expected to name her new cabinet today, coming off her United Conservative party’s election win last month. Smith holds a news conference in Calgary on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Todd Korol
EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is shuffling familiar faces into new cabinet portfolios while keeping former leadership rivals close and welcoming back two political veterans.
Nate Horner is the new finance minister, Mickey Amery takes over as justice minister and Adriana LaGrange moves to Health from her old job in Education.
Brian Jean, Rajan Sawhney, Todd Loewen and Rebecca Schulz – all contenders for the United Conservative Party leadership last fall – return to Smith’s cabinet table.
Jean is energy minister, Sawhney takes over Advanced Education, Schulz is minister for Environment and Protected Areas and Loewen returns to Forestry.
Jason Nixon and Ric McIver are two political veterans with cabinet experience dropped by Smith in her first cabinet last fall.
But they’re back, with Nixon in charge of Community Services and McIver returning to Municipal Affairs.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 9, 2023.
