Premier Danielle Smith provided new marching orders to four Alberta ministers last week, instructing them to defend the province’s rights and strengthen ties at home and abroad.
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The mandate letters tell Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis, Justice Minister Mickey Amery, Children and Family Services Minister Searle Turton and Smith herself, as minister of Intergovernmental and International Relations, to focus on Alberta’s sovereignty while fostering job growth and investment.
Smith said the government will open new offices in places such as Abu Dhabi and Mumbai to promote trade and investment. Alberta will also keep strong representation in Washington, D.C. and strengthen ties with Eastern Canada. They plan to use the party’s new Provincial Priorities Act to track federal funding and defend Alberta’s own affairs.
“This is about building Alberta’s future,” said Smith. “By opening new offices overseas, strengthening our U.S. partnerships and leading the charge on federal reform, we are positioning Alberta for growth.”
She instructed Ellis to expand policing options for municipalities, including supporting towns that wish to establish their own police services. His mandate also directs him to make sheriffs a full-service policing choice in smaller and rural communities.
Other steps include creating sheriff units to deal with fentanyl and border crime, while adding more resources to fight human trafficking and online child exploitation.
“We’re building a stronger, safer future by supporting law enforcement and taking decisive action on critical public safety issues,” said Ellis.
Amery will lead Alberta’s legal push against several federal laws and rules, including the Clean Electricity Regulations, the federal emissions cap and Ottawa’s Impact Assessment Act, also known as Bill C-69.
His letter also calls for new free-speech protections for professionals and more court staff to expedite the justice system. Support for bail reform were also mentioned.
“This mandate is about more than policy. It’s about standing up for Alberta’s jobs, jurisdiction and way of life,” said Amery.
Turton’s focus is on children and families.
His tasks include working with Indigenous leaders on child welfare, finishing the review of Alberta’s child protection law and strengthening supports for victims of domestic violence.
The mandate letters all stress one theme: protecting Alberta’s rights while creating new chances for trade, growth and investment.
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