Alberta Premier Danielle Smith unveiled her cabinet with 24 ministers.."This new cabinet is ready and willing to roll up its sleeves to take clear and decisive action to achieve our promises and commitments to Albertans," said Smith at a Friday press conference. ."Working as a team, we will govern for every one in the province." .There are five women including Smith in the cabinet. No previous ministers have been taken out. .Alberta Public Safety and Emergency Services Minister Mike Ellis was promoted to deputy premier and will keep his initial portfolio. Former Alberta agriculture and irrigation minister Nate Horner has been promoted to Treasury Board president and finance minister. .When it comes to Calgary representation, former municipal affairs minister Rebecca Schulz has become environment and protected areas minister. Alberta United Conservative Party MLA Jason Nixon (Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre) has been brought back into cabinet as seniors, community, and social services minister. .Since former Alberta health minister Jason Copping lost re-election, former education minister Adriana LaGrange will be taking his place. Former trade, immigration, and multiculturalism minister Rajan Sawhney has been promoted to advanced education minister. .Former children's services minister Mickey Amery will be the new justice minister. Alberta UCP MLA Ric McIver (Calgary-Hays) has returned to cabinet as municipal affairs minister. .The Edmonton area obtained some more representation, with UCP MLA Searle Turton (Spruce Grove-Stony Plain) getting the children and family services portfolio. Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Minister Dale Nally and Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish are based in the Edmonton area and will be staying in their places. .Despite past controversies, Transportation and Economic Corridors Minister Devin Dreeshen will be keeping his job. While some people were shuffled around, Forestry and Parks Minister Todd Loewen is staying in his role. .Former energy minister Peter Guthrie has shifted over to infrastructure. Former advanced education minister Demetrios Nicolaides will become education minister. .Indigenous Relations Minister Rick Wilson will be keeping his job. After being taken in and out of cabinet, UCP MLA Tanya Fir (Calgary-Peigan) will become arts, culture, and status of women minister. .In what could be perceived as a demotion, former deputy premier and infrastructure minister Nathan Neudorf will lose these titles and become affordability and utilities minister. Former jobs, economy, and trade minister Brian Jean has been chosen as energy and minerals minister. .UCP MLA RJ Sigurdson (Highwood) has been promoted to agriculture and irrigation minister. The new mental health and addiction minister will be MLA Dan Williams (Peace River). .Government House Leader Joseph Schow will keep that role and become tourism and sport minister. Former affordability and utilities minister Matt Jones has been promoted to jobs, economy, and trade minister..Moving into cabinet is MLA Muhammad Yaseen (Calgary-North) as immigration and multiculturalism minister. .Smith said Albertans "believe in our promises, and they gave us a mandate to make them happen." She acknowledged there is plenty of work ahead of her cabinet, so she knew she needed to have the right team. .While Albertans elected the UCP, she said she will never stop listening to them, including those who did not vote for it. She asked these Albertans to acknowledge when her cabinet falls short. .Smith pledged to lead the cabinet "to ensure a stronger, safer, more prosperous province that Albertans deserve today and that we want our children and our grandchildren to inherit tomorrow." ."And may our province forever remain strong and free," she said. .The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) said it was disappointed Smith did not pick a smaller cabinet..“Albertans don’t need a big cabinet to run things out of Edmonton,” said CTF Alberta Director Kris Sims. .“Smith should have followed in the footsteps of former premier Ralph Klein and cut the size of cabinet when first elected as premier.”.In 1992, Klein reduced the provincial cabinet from 26 to 17 after he was elected to replace former Alberta premier Don Getty..Alberta cabinet ministers are paid $181,404 per year..“It’s a positive that the size of cabinet has not grown, but seeing it reduced would have been better,” said Sims..Smith responded to this criticism by saying she has an ambitious agenda.."What I've found in the previous structures of cabinets is a minister focused on a particular area is good," she said. ."We have accomplished a lot in the last seven months, and I don't want to wait.".Despite having a large cabinet, she said she is confident she has the right people at the table. She said she is going to deliver on her agenda and what is best for Alberta. .Smith swore in her first cabinet in October. .READ MORE: Smith cabinet sworn in.She put 25 UCP MLAs including herself in that cabinet..She named two deputy premiers — Kaycee Madu and Neudorf. Former Treasury Board president and finance minister Travis Toews kept his job after bringing in the first balanced budget in 10 years.
