EDMONTON — Finance Minister Nate Horner and Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Matt Jones announced their resignations from Premier Danielle Smith's cabinet on Wednesday, ahead of an announced cabinet reshuffling on Thursday."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. "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." Horner, the MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, said the decision to step away from his role comes after he and Smith agreed the budget leading up to Alberta's election scheduled for October 2027 should be constructed by an individual running for re-election. "He’s been instrumental in strengthening Alberta’s fiscal position, growing the Heritage Savings Trust Fund for future generations, and advancing reforms to make auto insurance more affordable and sustainable for good drivers," wrote Smith in an X post about Horner following his announcement. .Jones, the MLA for Calgary-South East, likewise said he will not be running for re-election in 2027, and asked Smith to allow him to step away from the cabinet to "support an orderly transition.""I am proud of our government's work to restore the Alberta advantage by lowering taxes, reducing red tape, and championing Alberta's innovative and entrepreneurial industries and world class energy sectors," wrote Jones in a letter posted on his X account. Smith applauded Jones's work following the announcement. "He’s helped advance important changes to strengthen frontline care, improve patient access, and help build a health care system better equipped to meet the needs of a growing province," wrote Smith in an X post. Both Jones and Horner said they will continue serving their constituencies until the 2027 election. The Government of Alberta will hold the event on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., at which point Smith will announce the changes to her cabinet and who will be filling the vacancies left by Horner and Jones's departure.It is unknown whether other ministers will leave the cabinet or whether additional restructuring will occur. Media will not be allowed to attend..The Western Standard's publisher, Derek Fildebrandt, published a story on May 13 forecasting Horner's departed and said Minister of Assisted Living and Social Services Jason Nixon could be in line to replace him, but did so with major caveats stating that sources had both confirmed and denied the reports. "My sources are strictly unnamed on background to protect their identities, as they are not authorized to speak for the government," wrote Fildebrandt. "They are reliable sources, but they can't be taken to the bank. And things can change, as this column will likely change any plans that might currently be in place." Smith avoided the Western Standard's questions about the matter during a press conference later in the afternoon, saying that if any changes were coming, Albertans would find out in a press release. Nixon responded with more candour on May 14. "Look, if I had $1 for every time I heard a rumour in this business, I wouldn't need to be finance minister, because I could balance the budget alone just off the dollars from the rumours," said Nixon before telling reporters that he is focused on his current cabinet position. .Though none have been confirmed, rumours about other potential cabinet shuffles have circulated online since May 13, when Justice Shaina Leonard shut down Stay Free Alberta's independence referendum petition and placed pressure on the UCP cabinet to call for an independent vote themselves. "We think that this decision is incorrect in law and anti-democratic, and we will be appealing it," Smith said following the decision. "As a result, our cabinet and caucus will, of course, be meeting in the next couple of days to discuss the full context and make some decisions after we've had a chance to talk." Names have not been shared publicly, but individuals online have discussed a potential divide within the UCP caucus over the Alberta independence movement for a number of months, despite them maintaining a public position favouring a "sovereign Alberta, within a united Canada." Smith reshuffled her cabinet 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.
