Executive Council of Alberta

Last updated

Executive Council of Alberta
NicknameCabinet of Alberta
FormationJanuary 9, 1905
(119 years ago)
 (1905-01-09)
Membership
Charles III
Represented by
Salma Lakhani, Lieutenant Governor
Chair
Danielle Smith, Premier
Staff
Government of Alberta
Website www.alberta.ca/executive-council OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

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.

Contents

Honourifics

Executive 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

The 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

The 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

The current cabinet has been in place since June 9, 2023. [4]

PortfolioMinisterTook 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

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premier of Ontario</span> First minister of the government of Ontario

The premier of Ontario is the head of government of Ontario. Under the Westminster system, the premier governs with the confidence of a majority the elected Legislative Assembly; as such, the premier typically sits as a member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and leads the largest party or a coalition of parties. As first minister, the premier selects ministers to form the Executive Council, and serves as its chair. Constitutionally, the Crown exercises executive power on the advice of the Executive Council, which is collectively responsible to the legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Premier of British Columbia</span> Head of government and chief minister of the Canadian province of British Columbia

The premier of British Columbia is the first minister and head of government for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s, the title prime minister of British Columbia was often used. The word premier is derived from the French word of the same spelling, meaning "first"; and ultimately from the Latin word primarius, meaning "primary".

In Canada, a premier is the head of government of a province or territory. Though the word is merely a synonym for prime minister, it is employed for provincial prime ministers to differentiate them from the prime minister of Canada. There are ten provincial premiers and three territorial premiers. In most provinces and all territories, these persons are styled the Honourable only while in office, unless they are admitted to the King's Privy Council for Canada, in which case they retain the title even after leaving the premiership. In Nova Scotia and Alberta, former premiers are honorary members of the provincial Executive Council and thereby retain the style the Honourable for life.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Executive Council of Ontario</span> Cabinet of the Canadian province of Ontario

The Executive Council of Ontario, often informally referred to as the Cabinet of Ontario, is the cabinet of the Canadian province of Ontario. It comprises ministers of the provincial Crown, who are selected by the premier of Ontario and appointed by the lieutenant governor. The activities of the Government of Ontario are directed by the Executive Council.

The Executive Council of Prince Edward Island is the cabinet of that Canadian province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Executive Council of New Brunswick</span>

The Executive Council of New Brunswick, informally and more commonly, the Cabinet of New Brunswick, is the Cabinet of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Alberta</span>

The Government of Alberta is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Alberta. In modern Canadian use, the term Government of Alberta refers specifically to the executive—political ministers of the Crown who are appointed on the advice of the premier. Ministers direct the non-partisan civil service, who staff ministries and agencies to deliver government policies, programs, and services. The executive corporately brands itself as the Government of Alberta, or more formally, His Majesty's Government of Alberta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Government of Ontario</span> Canadian provincial government

The Government of Ontario is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Ontario. The term Government of Ontario refers specifically to the executive—political ministers of the Crown, appointed on the advice of the premier, and the non-partisan Ontario Public Service, who staff ministries and agencies to deliver government policies, programs, and services—which corporately brands itself as the Government of Ontario, or more formally, His Majesty's Government of Ontario.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lieutenant Governor (Canada)</span> Viceroy of a Canadian province

In Canada, a lieutenant governor is the representative of the king of Canada in the government of each province. The governor general of Canada appoints the lieutenant governors on the advice of the prime minister of Canada to carry out most of the monarch's constitutional and ceremonial duties for an unfixed period of time—known as serving "His Excellency’s pleasure"—though five years is the normal convention. Similar positions in Canada's three territories are termed "commissioners" and are representatives of the federal government, not the monarch directly.

The Government of Saskatchewan is the provincial government of the province of Saskatchewan. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monarchy in the Canadian provinces</span>

The monarchy of Canada forms the core of each Canadian provincial jurisdiction's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government in each province. The monarchy has been headed since September 8, 2022 by King Charles III who as sovereign is shared equally with both the Commonwealth realms and the Canadian federal entity. He, his consort, and other members of the Canadian royal family undertake various public and private functions across the country. He is the only member of the royal family with any constitutional role.

The Alberta order of precedence is a nominal and symbolic hierarchy of important positions within the province of Alberta. It has no legal standing but is used to dictate ceremonial protocol at events of a provincial nature.

  1. The King of Canada: His Majesty King Charles III
  2. Lieutenant Governor of Alberta: Her Honour the Honourable Salma Lakhani
  3. Premier of Alberta: The Honourable Danielle Smith
  4. The Chief Justice of The Court of Appeal of Alberta: The Honourable Justice Ritu Khullar
  5. Former lieutenant governors of Alberta
    1. The Honourable Donald Ethell
    2. The Honourable Lois Mitchell
  6. Former premiers of Alberta
    1. The Honourable Ed Stelmach
    2. The Honourable Alison Redford
    3. The Honourable Dave Hancock
    4. The Honourable Rachel Notley
    5. The Honourable Jason Kenney
  7. Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta: Nathan Cooper
  8. Ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Canada
  9. Members of the Executive Council of Alberta, in relative order of precedence as determined by the premier
  10. Leader of the Official Opposition: Christina Gray
  11. Current members of the King's Privy Council for Canada resident in Alberta, with precedence given to current members of the federal cabinet
  12. Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta with precedence governed by the date of their first election to the Legislature
  13. Members of the Senate of Canada who represent Alberta, by date of appointment
    1. The Honourable Scott Tannas
    2. The Honourable Patti LaBoucane-Benson
    3. The Honourable Paula Simons
    4. The Honourable Karen Sorensen
  14. Members of the House of Commons of Canada who represent Alberta constituencies, by date of election
  15. Superior court justices
    1. Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta: The Honourable Justice Kenneth G. Nielsen
    2. Justices of the Court of Appeal of Alberta
    3. Justices of the Court of King's Bench of Alberta
  16. Heads of religious denominations
  17. Heads of consular posts: consuls-general; consuls; vice-consuls; consular agents
  18. Judges of the Provincial Court of Alberta
    1. Chief Judge of the Provincial Court of Alberta
    2. Other judges by seniority of appointment
  19. Mayors of Alberta municipalities
  20. Aboriginal Leaders
    1. Chiefs of the Treaty First Nations in Alberta, in order of seniority of election to office;
    2. President of Métis Settlements General Council
    3. President of Métis Nation of Alberta: Audrey Poitras
  21. Deputy Minister to the Premier and Cabinet Secretary
  22. Clerk of the Legislative Assembly
  23. Ombudsman
  24. Provincial Auditor
  25. Chief Electoral Officer
  26. Ethics Commissioner: Marguerite Trussler
  27. Information and Privacy Commissioner: Jill Clayton
  28. Deputy Ministers
  29. Senior Alberta government officials with rank of Deputy Minister as determined by the Executive Council
  30. Chief executive officers of Crown corporations
  31. Leadership of Alberta universities
    1. Chancellor of the University of Alberta: Ralph B. Young
    2. Chancellor of the University of Calgary: Jim Dinning
    3. Chancellor of the University of Lethbridge: Shirley McClellan
    4. Chairman of the Board, University of Alberta
    5. Chairman of the Board, University of Calgary
    6. Chairman of the Board, University of Lethbridge
    7. Chairman of the Board, Athabasca University
    8. Chairman of the Board, Mount Royal University
    9. Chairman of the Board, MacEwan University
    10. President of the University of Alberta: David H. Turpin
    11. President of the University of Calgary: Ed McCauley
    12. President of the University of Lethbridge: Michael J. Mahon
    13. President of Athabasca University: Frits Pannekoek
    14. President of Mount Royal University: David Docherty
    15. President of Grant MacEwan University: David W. Atkinson
  32. Police and military
    1. Commanding Officer, "K" Division, Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Curtis Zablocki
    2. Commander, 3rd Canadian Division: Brigadier-General W.H. Fletcher
    3. Commanding Officer, HMCS Nonsuch
    4. Commanding Officer, 1 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group
    5. Commanding Officer, 1 Area Support Group
    6. Commanding Officer, 41 Canadian Brigade Group
    7. Commanding Officer, 4 Wing

The Government of British Columbia is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The term Government of British Columbia can refer to either the collective set of all three institutions, or more specifically to the executive—ministers of the Crown of the day, and the non-political staff within each provincial department or agency, i.e. the civil services, whom the ministers direct—which corporately brands itself as the Government of British Columbia, or more formally, His Majesty's Government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Klein ministry</span> Cabinet of Alberta, 1992–2006

The Klein Ministry was the combined Cabinet, chaired by Premier Ralph Klein, and Ministers that governed Alberta from the mid-point of the 22nd Alberta Legislature from December 14, 1992, to the mid-point of the 26th Alberta Legislature until December 14, 2006.

The Executive Council of New South Wales is the cabinet of that Australian state, consisting of the Ministers, presided over by the governor.

The Government of Quebec also known as His Majesty's Government for Quebec is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Quebec. The term Government of Quebec is typically used to refer to the executive—ministers of the Crown of the day, and the non-political staff within each provincial department or agency, i.e. the civil services, whom the ministers direct—which corporately brands itself as the Gouvernement du Québec, or more formally, His Majesty's Government.

The Honourable or The Honorable is an honorific style that is used as a prefix before the names or titles of certain people, usually with official governmental or diplomatic positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Redford ministry</span> Cabinet of Alberta, 2011–2014

The Redford Ministry was the combined Cabinet, chaired by fourteenth Premier Alison Redford, and Ministers that governed Alberta halfway through the fourth session of the 27th Alberta Legislature from October 7, 2011, to the early part of the second session of the 28th Alberta Legislature on March 23, 2014.

<i>Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act</i> 2022 Canadian provincial legislation

The Alberta Sovereignty Within a United Canada Act, commonly known as the Alberta Sovereignty Act, is an act introduced on November 29, 2022, the first day of the fall sitting of the 4th Session of the 30th Alberta Legislature by the Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith, and passed on December 8, 2022. The act seeks to protect Alberta from federal laws and policies that the Alberta legislature deems to be unconstitutional or harmful to Albertans or the province's economic prosperity, in areas such as natural resources, gun control, COVID-19 public health, education, and agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rutherford ministry</span> Cabinet of Alberta, 1905–1910

The Rutherford Ministry was the combined Cabinet, chaired by Premier Alexander Cameron Rutherford, and Ministers that governed Alberta from the day following the province's Confederation into Canada on September 2, 1905, to part way through the 2nd Alberta Legislature on May 26, 1910.

References

  1. "Bill". www.assembly.ab.ca. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
  2. "Lieutenant Governor". Legislative Assembly of Alberta. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  3. 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.
  4. "Cabinet | Alberta.ca". Alberta.ca. Retrieved July 8, 2023.

Notes

    Further reading