Nixon goes to finance, LaGrange swaps health roles in Alberta cabinet shuffle

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Premier Danielle Smith has installed one of her most veteran lieutenants as Alberta’s new finance minister, in a cabinet shakeup announced in the shadow of a looming separatist referendum.

Jason Nixon, who’s been a senior minister for much of the United Conservative government’s seven-year reign, is now tasked with stewarding Alberta’s fiscal house through oil-price gyrations.

He replaces outgoing finance minister Nathan Horner, who delivered the last three Alberta budgets but requested to be excluded from this reshaped cabinet because he isn’t running in next year’s election.

This shuffle of about one-quarter of the province’s cabinet ministers comes shortly ahead of Smith’s televised address Thursday evening, which is expected to outline her approach to calling a separatist referendum that activists have pushed for.

Smith announced new ministers to oversee most of the various health-care departments to continue her system reforms.

Nathan Neudorf replaces Nixon as minister of assisted living and community supports.

Justin Wright gets promoted from UCP caucus whip to minister of primary health. Adriana LaGrange moves from that file to become minister of hospital and surgical services, replacing Matt Jones, who also decided not to seek re-election in 2027.

For Nixon, this marks a return to the finance portfolio. He served in the role for a few months at the end of Jason Kenney’s premiership, before Smith initially shuffled him to the backbenches when she became leader. 

Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Tara Sawyer is the cabinet’s newest face, becoming agriculture minister. She was elected last summer in a by-election, and was previously chair of the Grain Growers of Canada.

She replaces RJ Sigurdson, who is moved to the affordability and utilities portfolio.

NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi suggested earlier this week that Smith demoted Jones and Horner because both have publicly come out against separatism. United Conservatives have routinely pushed against accusations Smith and her government are motivated by pro-separation sentiments.

More to come.