At a Glance - Week of January 12, 2026
Changes to Alberta’s Cabinet and UCP Caucus Leadership
A mini cabinet shuffle was triggered following the resignation of Minister Rebecca Schulz. Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter was sworn in as the new Minister of Environment and Protected Areas on January 2nd, joining the cabinet for the first time. Additionally, Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright was sworn in as the new chief government whip for the UCP caucus.
Premier Danielle Smith commented: “I would like to offer my sincere appreciation and most heartfelt thanks to the Honourable Rebecca Schulz who has served as Minister of Environment and Protected Areas since 2023, and as MLA for Calgary-Shaw since 2019.” She added: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to both Grant and Justin as they take on these new roles and responsibilities.”
Alberta Next Panel Delivers Final Report
The Alberta Next Panel has delivered its final report to the Alberta government after months of province-wide engagement, offering seven recommendations. The panel gathered input through online participation and 10 in-person town halls across Alberta. The recommendations focus on expanding Alberta-led institutions, advancing potential referendums on key initiatives such as a provincial pension plan and continuing work on reforms to equalization and an Alberta police service.
“Through Alberta Next, Albertans were clear that for too long, decisions made outside this province have limited Alberta’s ability to grow our economy and chart our own course. This engagement was about confronting those realities and identifying concrete options to take control of our future. We’ve received the panel’s recommendations and will review them carefully before responding in the months ahead,” commented Premier Danielle Smith.
Provincial School Library Regulations Take Effect
A newly enacted Alberta ministerial order that took effect January 5th requires school authorities to remove any library or classroom materials containing explicit graphic images and to adopt new policies governing how literary materials are selected, reviewed, and disclosed to families.
Alberta school divisions reported pulling a relatively small number of titles, including 34 on a working list in Edmonton Public Schools and 44 in the Calgary Board of Education. Most divisions declined to publicly release the titles of removed books, describing the lists as internal documents.
New Investments in Rehabilitation Services
Alberta’s government is investing $3.25 million through the Capital Maintenance and Renewal Program, matched by an equal contribution from the Glenrose Hospital Foundation, to build a new therapeutic pool at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital. The $6.5 million project is expected to be operational by 2028.
Minister of Hospital and Surgical Health Services, Matt Jones, commented: “A new therapeutic pool will enhance care for patients with complex conditions now and into the future. I commend the Glenrose Hospital Foundation and dedicated health care staff for their commitment to improving patient care.”