Premier-designate Jason Kenney addresses the media the day his after his election victory in Edmonton on April 17, 2019.JASON FRANSON/The Canadian Press
Former federal cabinet minister Jason Kenney and his United Conservative Party are to officially take control of Alberta’s government today.
Kenney is to become Alberta’s 18th premier and his cabinet members are to be sworn in during a ceremony at Government House in Edmonton.
They are expected to get right to work with their first meeting immediately after.
It will be the formal end of the four-year NDP government under Premier Rachel Notley.
Kenney’s UCP defeated the New Democrats in the provincial election April 16 when the party won 63 seats to the NDP’s 24.
Notley has promised to stay on as Opposition leader and will have an experienced caucus that includes 12 former cabinet ministers.
A new session of the legislature is to begin later in May.
Kenney has promised his government’s first piece of legislation will be to repeal a carbon tax the NDP brought in.
He has said that there will be a new department and minister tasked to working with stakeholders and other departments to cut administrative red tape by one-third over the next four years.