Alberta’s environment minister is resigning from cabinet at the end of the week, and quitting the legislature entirely before the end of the year.
Rebecca Schulz says she is resigning as Alberta’s minister of environment and protected areas effective Friday. She says she will remain as MLA for Calgary-Shaw and a member of the UCP caucus until May.
She says it’s time to “seek new opportunities” in her career and that “timing is everything”, without outlining what her next step will be.
“I have spent the better part of the last 16 years in politics — as a campaigner, a staffer, an MLA and a minister — and I’ve truly enjoyed every minute of it,” she wrote on social media.
“Serving Albertans and the people of Calgary-Shaw has been the honour of a lifetime. I am proud of our team, the leadership of our Premier Danielle Smith, and our government. From standing up for Alberta to bringing common sense back to the way we approach regulation and policy, I believe this work will build a stronger future for Alberta for decades to come.”
A byelection to replace Schulz must be called within six months of her vacating her seat.
Premier Danielle Smith says Grant Hunter, the MLA for Taber-Warner, will take over as environment minister. Hunter is the chief government whip and associate minister for water. He previously served as associate minister for red tape reduction.
Justin Wright, the MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, will take over as chief government whip.
Smith thanked Schulz, who is facing a recall petition, for her work in cabinet and the legislature.
“I wish Rebecca and her family all the best when she seeks new career opportunities,” the premier wrote.
Stalwart cabinet minister
Schulz was first elected as the MLA for Calgary-Shaw in 2019. She served as the minister of children’s services under Jason Kenney and later as the minster of municipal affairs under Smith.
She was re-elected to the legislature in 2023 with 56 per cent of the vote and was named minister of environment.
“The unity campaign is what drove me to get involved in Alberta politics, after seeing firsthand how radical policies devastated our province and its economy,” Schulz wrote. “We cannot ever let that happen again. I’m grateful for the leadership of former Premier Jason Kenney and current Premier Danielle Smith for their work to ensure that our party is united and Alberta remains a place of opportunity, as well as the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.
“I’ve been proud to stand up and defend Albertans, our livelihoods, our economy and major industries from ideological and unconstitutional federal overreach. I hope my legacy is one of being a strong representative — responding to people’s concerns, and their hopes and aspirations for our province, advocating for economic growth, limited and fiscally-responsible government, and making life better for Albertans.”
Schulz is one of 26 Alberta legislature members — 24 of whom are members of the UCP caucus — facing a citizen-led recall petition.
The petition accused Schulz of demonstrating “priority for herself over her own riding” through activities and actions that include using the notwithstanding clause on teachers.
Schulz called the recall unwarranted, saying she and her staff work hard to build relationships with residents while, as a cabinet minister, delivering on key projects and initiatives.
Pattern?
Schulz is the second UCP cabinet minister to announce a resignation this year.
Peter Guthrie quit the infrastructure portfolio in February over concerns about the government’s handling of a procurement and alleged corruption in health-care contracts.
He later was kicked out of UCP caucus for his criticism.
Guthrie, now the leader of the Progressive Tory Party of Alberta, said it could be that Schulz’s resignation represents a unique circumstance, and she’s just capitalizing on a new opportunity or making a decision for family.
“(But) if a pattern emerges here, I think then you can start to say, ‘OK, we have a cabinet and a caucus that is divided.’”
–With files from The Canadian Press