EDMONTON — Premier Danielle Smith announced a series of cabinet changes on Thursday to fill two vacant positions, including appointing Jason Nixon as Finance Minister. MLA Tara Sawyer and MLA Justin Wright joined UCP caucus members called upon to join Smith's cabinet on Thursday, following the departure of Finance Minister Nate Horner and Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones. Other changes included MLA Nathan Neudorf replacing Nixon as Assisted Living and Social Services Minister, MLA Adriana LaGrange filling the role as Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister, and MLA RJ Rigurdson stepping into Neudorf's prior position as Affordabilities and Utilities Minister. .Wright, who was appointed the Chief Government Whip in December, will step into LaGrange's prior role as Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services. MLA Brandon Lunty will fill the whip position.Sawyer was named the Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, a role previously held by Sigurdson. MLA Scott Cyr will take over for Sawyer as parliamentary secretary for transportation and strategic development."With this team of ministers, we will stay focused on delivering on our commitments and ensure Alberta remains forever strong and free," Smith said during a speech on Thursday..The seven-position domino effect was triggered when Horner and Jones both announced on Wednesday that they will not be running for reelection in Alberta's 2027 election and stepped away from cabinet to allow individuals seeking another term to fill their roles."When the Premier first appointed me to this cabinet role, I told her it was likely that my second term would be my last," wrote Horner in a letter published on X on Wednesday. "As we passed the halfway point of this term, I have had many conversations about the future.""I have decided that the original plan is still the best fit for me and my family and that I will not be seeking re-election after this term." Both Horner, the MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, and Jones, the MLA for Calgary-South East, said they intended to serve their respective constituencies for the remainder of the current term.Smith thanked both ministers on Thursday for their service.The UCP cabinet was previously reorganzied in December when MLA Grant Hunter took over for Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz after she announced her intention to step away from government after the spring session.
