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18 Ministers in 25 Years



Welcome to Municipal Affairs.


Once again, change is sweeping through Alberta’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs — a department that has seen no fewer than 18 different ministers in the last 25 years. That kind of turnover raises more than just eyebrows — it raises questions about long-term stability and direction.


To understand the scale of this, we need only look at the track record. The leadership of this ministry has resembled a revolving door. It began with Walter Paszkowski in 1999, followed by Guy Boutilier, Rob Renner, and Ray Danyluk — with Danyluk managing to hold the portfolio the longest in those early years.


But things picked up pace after 2010. In just five years, the role changed hands six times: Hector Goudreau, Doug Griffiths, Ken Hughes, Greg Weadick, Diana McQueen — all cycled through the post in rapid succession.


More recently, the trend continued with Deron Bilous, Danielle Larivee, Shaye Anderson, Kaycee Madu, and Tracy Allard, each serving short stints. Ric McIver, who has now held the position twice — most recently from 2023 until this week — became one of the longest-serving ministers, though his tenure was briefly interrupted by current Environment Minister Rebecca Schulz.


Now, Joseph Schow steps into the role — for now, in an interim capacity — becoming the ministry’s 18th occupant in just a quarter century.


McIver’s departure was swift. Earlier this week, he announced he would step down — only to be elected days later as the new Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, following Nathan Cooper’s resignation to become Alberta’s new envoy in Washington.


Premier Danielle Smith quickly tapped Schow — currently Minister of Tourism and Sport and Government House Leader — to fill the vacancy, at least for now.


Despite the churn, the importance of the Municipal Affairs portfolio remains unchanged. The ministry oversees key legislation, including the Municipal Government Act, the Emergency Management Act, and the Local Authorities Election Act. These laws shape how communities operate, respond to emergencies, and govern themselves at the ballot box.


And speaking of elections — the timing couldn’t be more significant. Alberta’s next municipal elections are just months away, scheduled for Monday, October 20th. With new political parties entering the fray and recent changes to election rules, this vote could look very different from those in years past — and municipalities are watching closely.


So, what does yet another leadership change mean for Alberta’s cities, towns, and villages? To explore the impact of Ric McIver’s departure, the challenges ahead, and the state of municipal governance, we sat down with Alberta Municipalities President Tyler Gandam to get his perspective on where the province’s communities go from here. We also turned our attention to the rural side of the province — where priorities and pressures often look a little different.


We spoke with Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) President Kara Westerlund to get her thoughts on what this latest ministerial change means for Alberta’s rural communities, especially as they gear up for the upcoming municipal elections.


For many rural leaders, consistency in leadership is key to addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges, emergency preparedness, and land use planning — all of which fall under the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.


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