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A look at the cabinet members in Alberta’s new UCP government

Click to play video: 'Breaking down UCP Cabinet with Ryan Jespersen'
Breaking down UCP Cabinet with Ryan Jespersen
WATCH ABOVE: Gord Steinke was joined by 630 CHED host Ryan Jespersen to talk about the Alberta MLAs appointed to Jason Kenney's UCP Cabinet – Apr 30, 2019

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and his cabinet were sworn in Tuesday to form the first United Conservative government in the province.

There’s seven women and 15 men — four of which are named Jason. Here’s a look at who they are:

Jason Kenney is sworn in as premier of Alberta in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.
Jason Kenney is sworn in as premier of Alberta in Edmonton on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

Jason Kenney (Premier, Intergovernmental Relations): a former federal Conservative cabinet minister and long-time Calgary Conservative MP. He returned to Calgary-Lougheed after winning a byelection in 2017.

READ MORE: Jason Kenney sworn in as Alberta’s 18th premier

Watch below: In his first official speech as premier of Alberta, Jason Kenney said he is eager to get to work and keep the promises his party was elected on by Albertans.

Click to play video: 'Alberta Premier Jason Kenney ‘eager to get to work’'
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney ‘eager to get to work’
Minister of Justice Doug Schweitzer
Minister of Justice Doug Schweitzer. United Conservative Party

Doug Schweitzer (Justice and Solicitor General): represents Calgary-Elbow as a first-term MLA. He is a lawyer who focused on bankruptcy and restructuring and served as vice chairman of Calgary’s drug treatment court. He ran against Kenney for the UCP leadership in 2017.

Minister of Health Tyler Shandro
Minister of Health Tyler Shandro. United Conservative Party

Tyler Shandro (Health): a lawyer and first-time MLA representing Calgary-Acadia, with a long record of community service. He has been a member of the National Parole Board, the Calgary Police Commission and the University of Calgary senate.

Minister of Transportation Ric McIver
Minister of Transportation Ric McIver. United Conservative Party

Ric McIver (Transportation): back for a third term, representing Calgary-Hays. He was a long-time Calgary city councillor before winning a seat as a Progressive Conservative in 2015. He served previously as transportation minister and in the jobs and labour portfolio.

Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism Tanya Fir
Minister of Economic Development, Trade and Tourism Tanya Fir. United Conservative Party

Tanya Fir (Economic Development, Trade and Tourism): a first-term MLA for Calgary-Peigan. She has a commerce degree from the University of Calgary and has worked as a human resources adviser in the oil and gas industry.

Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange
Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange. United Conservative Party

Adriana LaGrange (Education): a rookie MLA for Red Deer-North. She has served as a Catholic school division trustee in Red Deer and worked as a rehab practitioner for the physically and mentally disabled.

Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board Travis Toews
Minister of Finance and President of the Treasury Board Travis Toews. United Conservative Party

Travis Toews (Finance): a new MLA representing Grande Prairie-Wapiti. He is an accountant with extensive experience on provincial and national boards in the agriculture and beef industries.

Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon
Minister of Environment and Parks Jason Nixon. United Conservative Party

Jason Nixon (Environment and Parks): returns for a second term as MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre. He will also be government house leader, directing the flow of legislation in the house. Before politics, he worked for more than two decades in the non-profit sector.

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READ MORE: Kenney meets caucus, says election win already rippling through Alberta economy

Watch below: (From April 2019) There’s a lot of action going on behind the scenes as the United Conservative Party prepares to take government next week. As provincial affairs reporter Tom Vernon tells us, the two party leaders had the chance to address their teams ahead of the big day.

Click to play video: 'Alberta’s incoming premier meets with caucus'
Alberta’s incoming premier meets with caucus
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen. United Conservative Party

Devin Dreeshen (Agriculture and Forestry): became an MLA last year in a byelection for Innisfail-Sylvan Lake. The fifth-generation local farm owner was also a policy adviser to former federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz.

Minister of Energy Sonya Savage
Minister of Energy Sonya Savage. United Conservative Party

Sonya Savage (Energy): a first-term MLA for Calgary North-West. She is a lawyer who has worked in the oil and gas sector for more than a decade, serving as director of policy and regulatory affairs for the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association.

Minister of Community and Social Services Rajan Sawhney
Minister of Community and Social Services Rajan Sawhney. United Conservative Party

Rajan Sawhney (Community and Social Services): a new MLA for Calgary-North East. She has a degree in economics and political science and has worked in the oil sector for two decades.

Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon
Minister of Seniors and Housing Josephine Pon. United Conservative Party

Josephine Pon (Seniors and Housing): a rookie MLA for Calgary-Beddington. She has worked as an international trade consultant and has managed multiple restaurants.

Minister of Children’s Services Rebecca Schulz
Minister of Children’s Services Rebecca Schulz. United Conservative Party

Rebecca Schulz (Children’s Services): a first-term MLA representing Calgary-Shaw. She is a communications professional, with a masters degree from Johns Hopkins University, and once worked for former Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall.

Minister of Indigenous Relations Richard Wilson.
Minister of Indigenous Relations Richard Wilson. United Conservative Party

Rick Wilson (Indigenous Relations): represents Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin as a rookie MLA. He served as a councillor for the County of Wetaskiwin and as a public school trustee.

Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides
Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides. United Conservative Party

Demetrios Nicolaides (Advanced Education): a first-term MLA for Calgary-Bow. He is a communications professional with experience and training in conflict resolution. He has worked on peacekeeping and reconciliation in Cyprus.

Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Leela Aheer
Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women Leela Aheer. United Conservative Party

Leela Aheer (Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women): returns for a second term, representing Chestermere-Strathmore. She has been a music, drama and French and Spanish teacher, and was the critic for children’s services and the status of women.

Minister of Labour and Immigration Jason Copping
Minister of Labour and Immigration Jason Copping. United Conservative Party

Jason Copping (Labour and Immigration): a new MLA, representing Calgary-Varsity. He has worked as a management consultant, labour mediator and arbitrator, and has master’s degrees in industrial relations and law.

Minister of Municipal Affairs Kaycee Madu
Minister of Municipal Affairs Kaycee Madu. United Conservative Party

Kaycee Madu (Municipal Affairs): a first-term MLA for Edmonton-South West. The lone UCP member in the capital city is a lawyer who studied in Nigeria and has worked as a senior technical adviser for the Alberta government.

Minister of Infrastructure Prasad Panda
Minister of Infrastructure Prasad Panda. United Conservative Party

Prasad Panda (Infrastructure): a returning MLA representing Calgary-Edgemont. Born in India, Panda was first elected in 2015 after working as an engineer in the oil and gas sector.

Minister of Service Alberta Nate Glubish
Minister of Service Alberta Nate Glubish. United Conservative Party

Nate Glubish (Service Alberta): a new MLA representing Strathcona-Sherwood Park. He has a commerce degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has worked as an investments adviser, focusing on tech companies.

Associate Ministers:

Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction Grant Hunter
Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction Grant Hunter. United Conservative Party

Grant Hunter (Red Tape Reduction): a returning MLA for a second term in Taber-Warner. He is the owner-operator of a construction company and holds a master’s degree in business administration.

Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jason Luan
Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Jason Luan. United Conservative Party

Jason Luan (Mental Health and Addictions): returns to the legislature for a second stint, this time for Calgary-Foothills. He was previously in the house from 2012-2015 with the Progressive Conservatives. He has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Calgary.

Associate Minister of Natural Gas Dale Nally
Associate Minister of Natural Gas Dale Nally. United Conservative Party

Dale Nally (Natural Gas): a first-term MLA for Morinville-St. Albert. He has a master’s degree in education and a background in business. He has been co-chair for Diversity Edmonton, which promotes hiring people with disabilities.

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