Smith to unveil new-look Alberta cabinet Friday after 6 ministers lose seats
Re-elected Premier Danielle Smith will announce her new cabinet and take questions from reporters on Friday, nearly two weeks after winning Alberta's election.
Smith's United Conservative Party begins its mandate with 14 fewer seats than it held after the 2019 vote. The unofficial count from Elections Alberta is 49, while the NDP has 38.
Cabinet ministers Kaycee Madu, Tyler Shandro, Jason Copping, Jeremy Nixon, Nicholas Milliken and Jason Luan all lost their seats.
Ministers Travis Toews and Sonya Savage chose not to run again.
That means new ministers have to be appointed in health, justice, finance, mental health and addiction, culture, environment, skilled trades, and social services.
"We are going to see a cabinet that will have new faces in it, people that maybe Albertans aren't familiar with, maybe people who won their seats for the first time," said Tom Vernon with Crestview Strategy.
"I think we're going to see some of those former leadership rivals, some former high-profile cabinet ministers in these high-profile places to show government continuity."
Brian Jean, Rebecca Schulz, Todd Loewen and Rajan Sawhney all ran against Smith for the UCP leadership. All were then appointed to cabinet following that vote and all are likely to get important portfolios on Friday, Vernon believes.
The premier still has 16 members of her last cabinet that she can keep, including Deputy Premier Nathan Neudorf, Education Minister Adriana LaGrange and Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, who were all reelected.
Vernon said the justice portfolio will be interesting because the only UCP MLAs that are lawyers are Jean, Mickey Amery and Jason Stephan. Having that education is not a law, but the justice minister is usually a lawyer, he noted.
Smith also has no Edmonton MLAs to choose from after the NDP won every seat inside the city.
Vernon said it would make sense for Smith to keep Strathcona-Sherwood Park MLA Nate Glubish and Morinville-St. Albert MLA Dale Nally in cabinet to represent the capital region, and possibly give one or both more important roles.
Spruce Grove-Stony Plain MLA Searle Turton is also a possibility for a portfolio, he said.
"[It] remains to be seen how she handles the Edmonton issue. For the UCP caucus, not having anyone in the city will pose a problem," Vernon said.
"It will be up to city council, city school boards to bring their voice directly to the government. And the government is going to have to make a point to reach out to community leaders and community members here in the city."
Elections Alberta is expected to release official results on Thursday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Iran fires air defence batteries in provinces as sound of explosions heard near Isfahan
Iran fired air defence batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Judge says 'no evidence fully supports' murder case against Umar Zameer as jury starts deliberations
The judge presiding over the trial of a man accused of fatally running over a Toronto police officer is telling jurors the possible verdicts they may reach based on the evidence in the case.
Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn't over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball's highest scorer Caitlin Clark's first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.