The Executive Council of Alberta (the Cabinet) is a body of ministers of the Crown in right of Alberta, who along with the lieutenant governor, exercises the powers of the Government of Alberta. Ministers are selected by the premier and typically (but not always) sit as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). It is the provincial equivalent to the federal Cabinet of Canada.
 | |
| Nickname | Cabinet of Alberta |
|---|---|
| Formation | January 9, 1905 |
Membership | |
| Charles III | |
Represented by | Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor |
Chair | Danielle Smith, Premier |
Staff | Government of Alberta |
| Website | www |
Honourifics
editExecutive councillors are styled "the Honourable". A change was made to the protocol in 2022 and former members who were living on February 6, 2022 (the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II) are now honorary members of the council and are styled "the Honourable" for life (unless removed from membership for an indictable offence). Members and honorary members use the post-nominal letters "ECA".[1]
Role
editThe executive powers in the province lie with the lieutenant governor and are exercised on the advice of the premier of Alberta and Executive Council of Alberta. The lieutenant governor is restricted by custom and constitutional convention. The Lieutenant Governor performs constitutional, ceremonial and social duties.[2] The current premier is Danielle Smith, who was sworn in as the 19th premier on October 11, 2022.
Membership
editThe Executive Council of Alberta is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada. As federal and provincial responsibilities differ there are a number of different portfolios between the federal and provincial governments.
The lieutenant Governor, as representative of the King of Canada, heads the council, and is referred to as the Governor-in-Council. Other members of the Cabinet, who advise, or minister to, the vice-regal representative, are selected by the premier and appointed by the lieutenant governor. Most cabinet ministers are the head of a ministry, but this is not always the case. In the construct of constitutional monarchy and responsible government, the ministerial advice tendered is typically binding (although the royal prerogative belongs to the Crown, not to any of the ministers) and ministers account to the legislature for their portfolios.[3]
Current executive council
editThe current cabinet has been in place since June 9, 2023.[4]
| Portfolio | Minister | Took office |
|---|---|---|
| Premier of Alberta and Minister of Intergovernmental Relations | Danielle Smith | October 11, 2022 |
| Deputy Premier of Alberta and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services | Mike Ellis | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Infrastructure | Peter Guthrie | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board | Nate Horner | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Jobs, Economy and Trade | Matt Jones | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Justice | Mickey Amery | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Health | Adriana LaGrange | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Energy and Minerals | Brian Jean | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Tourism and Sport | Joseph Schow | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Environment and Protected Areas | Rebecca Schulz | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Technology and Innovation | Nate Glubish | October 21, 2022 |
| Minister of Affordability and Utilities | Nathan Neudorf | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Municipal Affairs | Ric McIver | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors | Devin Dreeshen | October 21, 2022 |
| Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation | RJ Sigurdson | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Forestry and Parks | Todd Loewen | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism | Muhammad Yaseen | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Education | Demetrios Nicolaides | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Advanced Education | Rajan Sawhney | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction | Dale Nally | October 21, 2022 |
| Minister of Indigenous Relations | Rick Wilson | April 30, 2019 |
| Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services | Jason Nixon | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Children and Family Services | Searle Turton | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Mental Health and Addiction | Dan Williams | June 9, 2023 |
| Minister of Arts, Culture, and the Status of Women | Tanya Fir | June 9, 2023 |
Former Cabinets
edit- Klein Ministry (1992–2006)
- Stelmach Ministry (2006–2011)
- Redford Ministry (2011–2014)
- Hancock Ministry (2014–2014)
- Prentice Ministry (2014–2015)
- Notley Ministry (2015–2019)
- Kenney Ministry (2019–2022)
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Bill". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ "Lieutenant Governor". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ Neitsch, Alfred Thomas (2008). "A Tradition of Vigilance: The Role of Lieutenant Governor in Alberta" (PDF). Canadian Parliamentary Review. 30 (4). Ottawa: Commonwealth Parliamentary Association: 23. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
- ^ "Cabinet | Alberta.ca". Alberta.ca. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
Notes
editFurther reading
edit- Connors, Richard; John M. Law (2005). Forging Alberta's constitutional framework. University of Alberta – Centre for Constitutional Studies. ISBN 0-88864-457-4. Retrieved October 21, 2012.