Executive Council of Alberta
The Executive Council of Alberta is a body of ministers of the Crown in right of Alberta, who along with the lieutenant governor, exercises the powers of the Government of Alberta. Ministers are selected by the premier and typically sit as a member of the Legislative Assembly. It is the provincial equivalent to the federal Cabinet of Canada.
Honorifics
Executive councillors are styled "the Honourable". A change was made to the protocol in 2022 and former members who were living on February 6, 2022 are now honorary members of the council and are styled "the Honourable" for life. Members and honorary members use the post-nominal letters "ECA".Role
The executive powers in the province lie with the lieutenant governor and are exercised on the advice of the premier and Executive Council. The lieutenant governor is restricted by custom and constitutional convention. The lieutenant governor performs constitutional, ceremonial and social duties. The lieutenant governor is Salma Lakhani, sworn in on August 26, 2020, and the premier is Danielle Smith, sworn in on October 11, 2022.Membership
The Executive Council is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada. As federal and provincial responsibilities differ there are a number of different portfolios between the federal and provincial governments.The lieutenant governor, as representative of the King of Canada, heads the council, and actions of the council are said to be done by the Governor-in-Council. Other members of the Cabinet, who advise, or minister to, the vice-regal representative, are selected by the premier and appointed by the lieutenant governor. Most cabinet ministers are the head of a ministry, but this is not always the case. In the construct of constitutional monarchy and responsible government, the ministerial advice tendered is typically binding and ministers account to the Legislative Assembly for their portfolios.