Alberta NDP shuffles shadow cabinet ahead of return to legislature

Alberta’s Official Opposition is making some changes to its shadow cabinet portfolios ahead of a return to the Legislature next week.

The Alberta NDP has split up the health portfolio to follow suit with the UCP government; Sarah Hoffman will now be responsible for the shadow Hospital and Surgical Facilities portfolio, while Sharif Haji will take on Primary and Preventative Health Services. Hoffman was previously responsible for the entire health portfolio.

The split in responsibilities comes following a decentralization of Alberta Health Services (AHS) by the province this year. The health agency was split into four parts Primary Care Alberta, Acute Care Alberta, Assisted Living and Recovery Alberta, and Continuing Care Alberta.

Sherwood Park MLA Kyle Kasawski will replace Edmonton-Decore MLA Sharif Haji as Shadow Minister for Affordability and Utilities.

Lethbridge-West MLA Rob Miyashiro will become Shadow Minister for Municipal Affairs, taking over from Kasawaski.

Gurtej Singh Brar, who represents Edmonton-Ellerslie, will serve as Senior Advisor to the Leader for Small Business. 

MLAs will return to the Legislature for the first time since May on Monday, Oct. 27.

It will be the first time Premier Danielle Smith and Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi face off in the province’s capital. Nenshi became the new leader of the party in 2024 but wasn’t able to attend sittings because he wasn’t an elected official. He won a by-election in Edmonton Strathcona — Rachel Notley’s old seat — in June.

Government house leader Joseph Schow said earlier this week the Smith government is planning to introduce at least 15 bills in the Legislature this sitting. Among them will be legislation limiting how professional regulatory bodies can police their own members and a bill limiting who can run in provincial elections.

If necessary the premier has also said it will introduce legislation forcing striking teachers back to work as soon as next week.

Smith’s government is also expected to invoke the notwithstanding clause for three laws impacting transgender people in Alberta.

Nenshi’s NDP says they will oppose back-to-work legislation if it’s brought forward by the government.

The Opposition also intends to bring forward proposals to increase the minimum wage, protect tips for service workers, add whistleblower protections, and more.

It will also continue to call for a full public inquiry into the Alberta Health Services contract procurement scandal.

The Speech from the Throne, which will kick off the fall sitting of the legislature, is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Thursday.

-With files from The Canadian Press