The Executive Council of Alberta (the Cabinet) is a body of

ministers of the Crown Minister of the Crown is a formal constitutional term used in Commonwealth realms to describe a minister of the reigning sovereign or viceroy. The term indicates that the minister serves at His Majesty's pleasure, and advises the sovereign or ...

in right of

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, who along with the

lieutenant governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

, exercises the powers of the Government of Alberta. Ministers are selected by the premier and typically (but not always) sit as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). It is the provincial equivalent to the federal

Cabinet of Canada The Cabinet of Canada (french: Cabinet du Canada) is a body of Minister of the Crown, ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada. Chaired by the ...

Honourifics

Executive councillors are styled "the Honourable". A change was made to the protocol in 2022 and former members who were living on February 6, 2022 (the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II) are now honorary members of the council and are styled "the Honourable" for life (unless removed from membership for an indictable offence). Members and honorary members use the

post-nominal letters Post-nominal letters, also called post-nominal initials, post-nominal titles, designatory letters or simply post-nominals, are letters placed after a person's name to indicate that the individual holds a position, academic degree, accreditation, ...

"ECA".

Role

The executive powers in the province lie with the lieutenant governor and are exercised on the advice of the premier of Alberta and Executive Council of Alberta. The lieutenant governor is restricted by custom and

constitutional convention Constitutional convention may refer to: * Constitutional convention (political custom), an informal and uncodified procedural agreement *Constitutional convention (political meeting), a meeting of delegates to adopt a new constitution or revise an e ...

and today, the role as evolved into a figurehead. The current premier is

Danielle Smith Marlaina Danielle Smith (born April 1, 1971) is a Canadian politician and journalist who has been serving as the 19th premier of Alberta since October 11, 2022, and leader of the United Conservative Party (UCP) since October 6, 2022. Smith ent ...

, who was sworn in as the 19th premier on October 11, 2022.

Membership

The Executive Council of Alberta is similar in structure and role to the

. As federal and provincial responsibilities differ there are a number of different portfolios between the federal and provincial governments. The

lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

, as representative of the King of Canada, heads the council, and is referred to as the Governor-in-Council. Other members of the Cabinet, who advise, or minister to, the vice-regal representative, are selected by the premier and appointed by the lieutenant governor. Most cabinet ministers are the head of a

ministry Ministry may refer to: Government * Ministry (collective executive), the complete body of government ministers under the leadership of a prime minister * Ministry (government department), a department of a government Religion * Christian ...

, but this is not always the case. In the construct of

constitutional monarchy A constitutional monarchy, parliamentary monarchy, or democratic monarchy is a form of monarchy in which the monarch exercises their authority in accordance with a constitution and is not alone in decision making. Constitutional monarchies dif ...

and

responsible government Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability, the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. Governments (the equivalent of the executive bran ...

, the ministerial advice tendered is typically binding (although the royal prerogative belongs to the Crown, not to any of the ministers) and ministers account to the legislature for their portfolios.

Current executive council

The current cabinet has been in place since October 21, 2022.

Former Cabinets

* Klein Ministry (1992–2006) *

Stelmach Ministry The Stelmach Ministry was the combined Cabinet (called Executive Council of Alberta), chaired by thirteenth Premier Ed Stelmach, and Ministers that governed Alberta shortly after the conclusion of the first session of the 26th Alberta Legislat ...

(2006–2011) *

Redford Ministry The Redford Ministry was the combined Cabinet (called Executive Council of Alberta), chaired by fourteenth Premier Alison Redford, and Ministers that governed Alberta halfway through the fourth session of the 27th Alberta Legislature from Oct ...

(2011–2014) * Hancock Ministry (2014–2014) *

Prentice Ministry The Prentice Ministry was the combined Cabinet (called Executive Council of Alberta), chaired by 16th Premier of Alberta Jim Prentice, that governed Alberta from September 15, 2014 to May 24, 2015. It was made up of members of the Progressive ...

(2014–2015) *

Notley Ministry The Notley Ministry was the combined Cabinet (called Executive Council of Alberta), chaired by 17th Premier of Alberta Rachel Notley, that governed Alberta from May 24, 2015 to April 30, 2019. It was made up of members of the New Democratic Par ...

(2015–2019) *

Kenney Ministry The Kenney Ministry was the combined Cabinet (called Executive Council of Alberta), chaired by 18th Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney, that governed Alberta from April 2019 until October 2022. During Kenney's tenure, the Executive Council (com ...

(2019–2022)

References

Notes

External links

Government of AlbertaGovernment of Alberta CabinetLieutenant Governor of Alberta
{{Executive Councils of Canada