Jason Smith

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is elevating Jason Nixon to the job of Finance Minister, as part of a Thursday morning cabinet shuffle.

He takes over from Nate Horner, who announced Wednesday he would not run in the next election. Nixon previously oversaw assisted living and social services.

The cabinet shuffle is a substantial overhaul of her government’s leadership in several key portfolios and is the start of what will be a busy day in Alberta politics.

Mr. Nixon’s job will now be filled by Nathan Neudorf, a cabinet veteran. Ms. Smith, when she took over as UCP Leader and Premier in the fall of 2022, excluded Mr. Nixon from her first cabinet. He had previously served in cabinet in Jason Kenney’s government.

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Mr. Horner said he intends to stay in caucus until the next election, tentatively scheduled for 2027.

Ms. Smith’s changes to her front bench unfolded Thursday morning as a legislative committee is scheduled to reconvene later in the afternoon, where they will likely vote on UCP MLA Nate Glubish’s motion to get a question about provincial secession on this fall’s referendum ballot.

On Wednesday, a premature statement sent by the UCP caucus bungled Mr. Glubish’s first attempt to hold a vote on recommending that cabinet proceed with an independence referendum.

The Premier is scheduled to give a televised address to the province at 8:45 p.m. ET.

The cabinet shakeup also includes new leaders in three of Alberta’s fourth health departments.

Ms. Smith named Justin Wright, who was elected in 2023, as the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, which was previously under Adriana LaGrange’s purview.

Mr. Wright previously served as the parliamentary secretary for rural health for the southern chunk of the province.

Ms. LaGrange will now handle Hospital and Surgical Health Services, after Matt Jones on Wednesday said he would step away from cabinet. She was in charge of health before Ms. Smith carved it up into multiple ministries over the last few years.

Mr. Jones, however, said he will remain in caucus “at this time.”

Rick Wilson, the Minister for Mental Health and Addiction, remains in his role as the fourth health minister.

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Thursday’s shuffle resulted in a cabinet with even greater rural representation. Mr. Jones represents a riding in Calgary, while Mr. Horner is the MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, a rural constituency.

Along with Mr. Wright, Tara Sawyer is new to cabinet. Ms. Sawyer, who won a by-election in a rural riding last June, is the province’s new Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation. RJ Sigurdson, who previously handled the portfolio, is now the Minister of Affordability and Utilities, a job last handled by Mr. Neudorf.

Both Mr. Wright and Ms. Sawyer are from Cypress-Medicine Hat and Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills, respectively.