Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced six changes to her cabinet on Thursday, including the addition of two first-time ministers. The moves were necessitated by the resignation of two veteran ministers the day prior.
Key Appointments
The most prominent change sees veteran Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre MLA Jason Nixon replace Nate Horner as finance minister. Nixon briefly held the role in 2022 after then-minister Travis Toews stepped aside to run for the United Conservative Party (UCP) leadership. Since June 2023, Nixon served as minister of assisted living and social services, and previously served as environment minister for three years under former premier Jason Kenney. He has been elected three times, twice for the UCP.
Former health minister Adriana LaGrange moves from primary and preventative health services to become minister of hospital and surgical health services, replacing outgoing Matt Jones.
Resignations Trigger Shuffle
On Wednesday, both Horner and Jones announced they would not run in the next provincial election and will remain as backbench MLAs to allow replacements time to settle before the vote scheduled for October 2027.
Former deputy premier Nathan Neudorf moves from affordability and utilities to replace Nixon as assisted living and social services minister. Highwood MLA and former agriculture and irrigation minister RJ Sigurdson replaces Neudorf as affordability and utilities minister.
Rookies Join Cabinet
Two newcomers were named to cabinet. Tara Sawyer, MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, elected 11 months ago in a by-election, replaces Sigurdson as agriculture and irrigation minister. Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright, in his first term, becomes primary and preventative health services minister, having previously served as parliamentary secretary for rural health (south) since February 2025.
Thursday's shuffle is Smith's second major cabinet overhaul since the May 2023 election.
