Two of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s cabinet ministers are stepping down.
Finance Minister Nate Horner and Hospitals Minister Matt Jones say they are leaving the posts.
Both say they don’t plan to run again in the October 2027 general election and, given that, it’s best to step down now and give their successors a chance to grow in the jobs.
Both made the announcements on social media.
In the letter announcing his resignation, Horner said when he took the job as Finance Minister, he told the Premier that it would likely be his last term, describing it as “the best fit for me and my family.”
In his letter, Jones thanked his family, constituents and Premier Smith as well as former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and said he asked to step back from Cabinet now to “support an orderly transition.”
Both Horner and Jones said they plan to continue to serve as backbenchers in the United Conservative caucus until the election is called.
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Smith, who is expected to formally shuffle her cabinet on Thursday, thanked the ministers for their service, saying on social media that both accomplished plenty in their respective roles.
Horner and Jones were first elected in 2019 when the United Conservatives and former premier Jason Kenney took power from the NDP.
Kenney appointed both Horner and Jones to his own cabinet in the later part of his tenure, with Horner serving as agriculture minister while Jones oversaw children’s services.
When Smith won the party leadership contest in 2022 to replace Kenney, she kept Horner in agriculture but moved Jones to the affordability and utilities portfolio.
After the spring 2023 election, Horner was shifted to finance, a role he had kept since.
Jones had three separate ministry appointments in the years since, including stints in affordability and utilities, as well as jobs, economy and trade.
He was also Alberta’s first minister in charge of hospitals, a portfolio created last year as part of Smith’s massive health-care restructuring that split the health portfolio into four.
As minister of hospital and surgical health services, Jones has been tasked with managing overburdened emergency rooms, especially in the two major cities.
Late last year, a 44-year-old man died in an Edmonton hospital after waiting nearly eight hours for care.
Jones, in January, called a fatality inquiry into the matter.
He also promised to create a new physician triage role in hospitals to prevent similar deaths, but the government has found itself at odds with the provincial doctors association over compensation and the role still hasn’t been put in place.
A similar death was reported last week at the Royal Alexandra Hospital near downtown Edmonton.
The Alberta Medical Association hasn’t provided details but has said the man had received some care but a lack of available stretchers meant he had to wait in the emergency room, where he died several hours later.
Alberta Health Services said it’s investigating the case.
Horner has overseen all but one of Smith’s budgets since she took office, including the most recent spending plan that forecasted a $9.4-billion deficit — the largest since the COVID-19 pandemic.
That figure isn’t expected to be nearly as steep anymore as a result of the U.S. war on Iran and the high oil prices it has caused. Some analysts and business groups have said Alberta’s fortunes could even swing into a surplus should prices stay high for longer.
Smith is expected to formally shuffle her cabinet on Thursday in Calgary.
Last week, Smith wouldn’t confirm or deny rumours that Jason Nixon, minister of assisted living and social services, could take over for Horner.
She told reporters instead that an announcement would be made in due course.
Nixon told reporters last week that speculation was a “waste of time” and that he was focused on his current role.
-with files from Global News.
probably got positions on a private hospital board that smith is allowing in alberta just like the old ahs minister got.
MOST CORRUPT GOVERNMENT EVER
Hospital minister? Do you mean health minister?
Glad both these ministers are leaving! Did absolutely nothing!
@ Igvar : Yeah people die in her waiting rooms and you blame other parties?.
I thought it was Smith in charge?
No?
Resign Smith if you can’t do the job!
The hospital guy couldn’t take Smith anymore. Google Smith’s comments on cancer. She”s nuts.
Tough jobs, they get a lot of abuse. Too bad we don’t have an opposition that would sit down and talk instead of yelling across the floor of the Legislature.