Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk has been promoted to a cabinet position at the provincial legislature.
The local MLA will now serve as the associate minister for the status of women after the former associate minister, Whitney Issik, became the new minister of parks and environment during a cabinet shuffle on Tuesday (Jun. 21).
“As Alberta continues to experience strong economic growth and job creation, our focus is on providing stable and steady government that will allow this growth to continue,” said Premier Jason Kenney.
“I’m confident that these changes to Cabinet and the new members at the table will contribute to even stronger growth and prosperity in the future.”
Cabinet changes come as the United Conservative Party prepares for its leadership election this fall. Several former ministers, including Rajan Sawhney, Travis Toews, and Rebecca Shulz, left their positions recently in order to run for the top spot.
Jason Nixon, who has also expressed interest in running for the UCP leadership, is now the president of the treasury board and minister of finance after being shuffled out of the environment and parks position.
Matt Jones, MLA for Calgary-South East, will now serve as the minister of children’s services. MLA for Calgary-Currie, Nicholas Miliken, now serves as the new infrastructure minister, the spot formerly occupied by Prasad Panda, who became the minister of transportation.
Voting for the UCP leadership race will begin on Sept. 2, with the new leader to be announced on Oct. 6.