Weeks after the New Democrats won a majority in the provincial election, Premier-Designate Rachel Notley released a date for her, and her cabinet, to be sworn-in.
Notley said she, and 11 cabinet ministers, would be sworn-in at the Alberta Legislature grounds Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m.
The NDP cabinet will hold its first meetings in Calgary on Wednesday, May 27, and Thursday, May 28.
“There is a lot of work to be done there’s no question,” Notley said Wednesday. “There are a lot of priorities to be determined, a lot of information to receive, a lot of people to hire, a lot of phones to connect.”
Government MLAs will be sworn-in on June 1.
Notley also said she plans to have the Legislature meet to elect a speaker on June 11 – and a Speech from the Throne will be delivered June 15.
Notley said the Government would also ask the Legislature to approve a number of bills, including an Interim Supply Bill to finance the operations of government until the fall.
“I think it’s very important that we take the time that’s necessary to go through the budget and ensure, you know, we’re going to have access to a great deal of information in terms of preparing that budget than certainly we ever did as members of the opposition,” Notley said.
It’s expected the government will table a full provincial budget in the fall.
As for a royalty review, Notley maintained such a move is a high priority for her cabinet – along with minimum wage hikes, expected to go into effect in the fall.
Alberta’s Chief Justice will handle Sunday’s swearing-in, as the Lieutenant Governor’s office is in transition – the Prime Minister announced Wednesday that Lois Mitchell had been chosen to replace Lieutenant Governor Donald Ethell.
With files from Serena Mah
