The Alberta cabinet door has turned once again, and the Town of Cochrane council and staff will soon be preparing to brief a new municipal affairs minister on local needs.
Dan Williams was named the new minister of municipal affairs today, replacing Ric McIver, who has become Speaker of the Alberta Legislature.
Williams was first elected in 2019 and re-elected in 2023 in the Peace River riding. He was sworn in as minister of Mental Health and Addiction on June 9, 2023. That fall, he visited the Stoney Nakoda Nation for the opening of a new treatment centre.
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Before entering politics, Williams worked in the sand and gravel industry. He has never served on a municipal council.
Following the end of the spring sitting of the legislature and McIver’s resignation from cabinet, Premier Danielle Smith announced changes to her cabinet and caucus leadership.
New appointments include:
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Minister of Advanced Education: Myles McDougall
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Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services: Matt Jones
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Minister of Indigenous Relations: Rajan Sawhney
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Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration: Joseph Schow
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Minister of Mental Health and Addiction: Rick Wilson
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Minister of Municipal Affairs: Dan Williams
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Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services: Adriana LaGrange
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Minister of Tourism and Sport: Andrew Boitchenko
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Associate Minister of Multiculturalism: Mohammed Yaseen
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Associate Minister of Water: Grant Hunter
Hunter will also serve as Chief Government Whip.
Demetrios Nicolaides adds childcare to his portfolio and becomes minister of Education and Childcare. Jason Nixon’s title changes to minister of Assisted Living and Social Services, reflecting his oversight of Assisted Living Alberta.
Previously, Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie resigned as minister of Infrastructure and was replaced by Martin Long. He was later removed from the UCP caucus.