It seems as though criticizing Premier Jason Kenney has cost an area MLA her cabinet post.  

Chestermere-Strathmore MLA Leela Aheer is no longer the Minister of Culture, Multiculturalism and Status of Women after the Premier announced several changes to the cabinet today (July 8) in a move he said was to "further support Alberta's economic recovery."

Aheer has been openly critical of the Premier on two issues.  The first was when she said Kenney needed to apologize to Albertans when pictures came out showing what appeared to be he and other Alberta UCP politicians breaking COVID-19 health restrictions by having a dinner party on the roof of the so-called "Sky Palace."

Aheer said in a Facebook post, "all of us make mistakes, but this is a big one, and I am truly sorry.  Our leadership should sincerely apologize." 

Aheer was also critical of Kenney about his comments regarding "cancel culture" when it came to renaming schools that were named for historical figures involved in the residential school system.

Aheer called Kenney out for his comments saying,  "Changing the names of schools and educating people about these atrocities is not ‘cancel culture,  Cancel culture is what happened to our First Nations by not acknowledging these atrocities and those responsible.”

The responsibility of Aheer's former cabinet post will now be a shared one involving three ministries. 

The cabinet ministers that were announced by Kenney are to focus on Alberta's recovery, post-pandemic.

  • Rajan Sawhney, MLA for Calgary-North East and current Minister of Community and Social Services, becomes Minister of Transportation.
  • Tanya Fir, MLA for Calgary-Peigan, becomes Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction.
  • Nate Horner, MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, becomes Associate Minister of Rural Economic Development, under the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Innovation.
  • Muhammad Yaseen, MLA for Calgary-North, becomes Associate Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, under the Ministry of Labour and Immigration.
  • Whitney Issik, MLA for Calgary-Glenmore, becomes the Associate Minister of Status of Women, under the Ministry of Culture and Status of Women, and the chief government whip.
  • Ron Orr, MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka, becomes the Minister of Culture.
  • Mike Ellis, MLA for Calgary-West and currently the chief government whip, becomes Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions.
  • Jason Luan, MLA for Calgary-Foothills and currently the Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, becomes the Minister of Community and Social Services.

Other non-ministry changes include:

  • Joseph Schow, MLA for Cardston-Siksika and currently the deputy government whip, becomes deputy government house leader.
  • Brad Rutherford, MLA for Leduc-Beaumont, becomes deputy government whip.

About the cabinet shuffle, Kenney said, "Alberta is leading Canada out of the COVID-19 pandemic and into strong economic growth. This renewal of our cabinet will support Alberta’s Recovery Plan, a plan to build, to diversify the economy and to create jobs. With six new voices and strong, experienced ministers moving into important economic roles, Alberta’s government is ready to deliver a strong recovery for all Albertans.”

Neither of the MLAs representing the city, Airdrie-East's Angela Pitt and Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie were involved in today's cabinet shuffle.  

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