Premier Danielle Smith has issued mandate letters that direct ministers to take decisive action to increase Alberta’s sovereignty within a united Canada.

Alberta’s Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis, Minister of Justice Mickey Amery, Minister of Children and Family Services Searle Turton and the Ministry of Intergovernmental and International Relations have been tasked with pushing back on federal overreach and standing up for Alberta whenever and wherever laws or policies do not align with provincial priorities, or harm our people, economy or constitutional rights.

The new mandate letters focus on putting Albertans first, promoting our core industries, asserting our constitutional jurisdiction in key areas, and building a future where Alberta continues to lead Canada in growth and opportunity.

Intergovernmental and International Relations

The Premier, as minister of Intergovernmental and International Relations, will work with Deputy Minister, Liam Stone, on the following priorities:

• Expanding Alberta’s presence and engagement nationally and internationally by establishing new offices in key markets such as Abu Dhabi and Mumbai. Maintaining strong U.S. representation through Washington, D.C. and other offices, while strengthening engagement in Eastern Canada.

• Defending Alberta’s jurisdiction by implementing the Provincial Priorities Act with a centralized portal to track federal funding, introducing legislation to protect Alberta’s authority in international agreements, and advancing federal regulatory reform.

• Driving trade, investment, and growth by leading a cross-government review of Alberta’s investment strategy, collaborating with Invest Alberta, and creating an international roadmap to grow and diversify trade and investment opportunities.

• Strengthening partnerships and influence by deepening bipartisan U.S. engagement, preparing Alberta’s position for the upcoming CUSMA review, and working with Western Canadian premiers to expand market access and trade corridors.

  
  

Public Safety and Emergency Services

The Premier tasks Minister Ellis with:

• Strengthening alternative local policing options by supporting municipalities exploring independent police services, and implementing the legislative and operational framework necessary to make sheriffs a full-service policing option for rural and smaller communities.

• Setting clear policing priorities by working with the Minister of Justice to create a policing priority framework that directs law enforcement to focus on the government’s priorities, including defending Albertans’ right to lawful firearm ownership and self-defence.

• Continued investment for combatting human trafficking in our communities, including additional funding for Internet and Child Exploitation Teams.

• Move forward with implementation of specialty sheriffs units to combat fentanyl and secure the southern border.

  
  

Justice

The Premier tasks Minister Amery with:

• Protecting rights and freedoms by defending Albertans’ right to lawful firearm ownership and self-defence, introducing free-speech protections for provincially regulated professionals, and supporting academic freedom in post-secondary institutions.

• Defending Alberta against federal overreach by using every legal tool available to overturn or overhaul Ottawa’s unconstitutional legislation and regulations – including C-69, the emissions cap, clean electricity regulations, tanker ban, industrial carbon tax, plastics designation, C-59 censorship law, fertilizer rules and the EV mandate – and building alliances with other provinces to protect Alberta’s natural resource jurisdiction.

• Strengthening Alberta’s justice system by increasing judicial capacity and support staff, expanding virtual and innovative approaches to dispute resolution and ensuring Albertans can access timely and effective justice.

• Providing greater oversight and appropriate safeguards for medical assistance in dying and prohibiting medical assistance in dying where a person seeks this procedure based solely on a mental illness.

• Putting public safety first by advocating for federal bail reform, supporting a policing priority framework with Public Safety, and working to ensure Alberta’s hiring practices in public institutions are based on merit, competence, and equality of all persons.

Children and Family Services

The Premier tasks Minister Turton with:

• Protecting Indigenous children and youth by continuing to work with the Minister of Indigenous Relations to lead engagement with Alberta First Nations, Métis communities and the Government of Canada on the implementation of An Act Respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families (the federal act, formerly Bill C-92) to ensure the interests of Indigenous children in Alberta are protected.

• Modernizing child protection legislation by completing the review of the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act to ensure it meets the needs of Alberta’s children, youth and families today.

• As lead, cooperating with the Minister of Arts, Culture and Status of Women to strengthen and develop supports for victims of domestic violence.