The Executive Council of Alberta (the Cabinet) is a body of ministers of the Crown 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, exercises the powers of the

Government of Alberta The government of Alberta (french: gouvernement de l'Alberta) is the body responsible for the administration of the Canadian province of Alberta. As a constitutional monarchy, the Crown—represented in the province by the lieutenant governor—is ...

. 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.

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 The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II was the international celebration in 2022 marking the Platinum jubilee, 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952, the first British monarch to ever celebrate one. In the Un ...

) 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 "ECA".

Role

The executive powers in the province lie with the lieutenant governor and are exercised on the advice of the

premier of Alberta The premier of Alberta is the first minister for the Canadian province of Alberta, and the province's head of government. The current premier is Danielle Smith, leader of the United Conservative Party, who was sworn in on October 11, 2022. The ...

and Executive Council of Alberta. The lieutenant governor is restricted by custom and constitutional convention and today, the role as evolved into a figurehead. The current premier is Danielle Smith, 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 Cabinet of Canada. As federal and provincial responsibilities differ there are a number of different portfolios between the federal and provincial governments. The lieutenant Governor, as representative of the

King of Canada The monarchy of Canada is Canada's form of government embodied by the Canadian sovereign and head of state. It is at the core of Canada's constitutional Canadian federalism, federal structure and Westminster system, Westminster-style Parliamentar ...

, 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, 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, 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 (2006–2011) * Redford Ministry (2011–2014) * Hancock Ministry (2014–2014) * Prentice Ministry (2014–2015) * Notley Ministry (2015–2019) * Kenney Ministry (2019–2022)

References

Notes

External links

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