Premier Rachel Notley creates new economic development ministry

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley shuffled her cabinet Thursday and created a new department toco-ordinate efforts to diversify the province's economy as it deals with massive job losses in the energy sector.

DeronBiloustakes over the newportfolio ofEconomic Development and Trade, which will overseeall ofAlberta's international trade offices andnew and existingtradeinitiatives.

Thedepartmentwillhelpbusinessesattract investment,create jobs, develop new productsand reach new markets, Notley said.

"This is a unique effort fora unique time in Alberta's economic story," Notley said. "It's hard to believe, quite frankly, that we haven't hada minister dedicated to economic developmentand diversification since 2006. Frankly, growth used to be taken for granted. That passivity and those attitudes of entitlement end today."

Notley said the impact oflow oil prices and thousands of jobs lost in the energy sectormake it imperative that Alberta find and develop new businesses and help others expand and grow.

"While the worst pain is in energy, the impact is being felt right across sectors and communities,"Notleysaid. "Today's announcement and changesto cabinet are aimed directly atjob creators,businessinnovatorsand all those peopleworkingto turn their brightideas into new products, newservices, and most importantlynew jobs."

A detailed plan to diversify the economy will be outlined when the government tables its first budget on Tuesday, Notley said, though she declined to answer questions about any specifics of thatplan.

Of the budget itself, Notley said: "There's not going to be any big surprises in it. Our view is that we need to try and stick as close as we can to the principles that we ran on."

DanielleLarivee, the MLA for Lesser Slave Lake,was added to cabinet Thursday, takingover from Bilousas minister of Municipal Affairs and minister of Service Alberta.

LoriSigurdsonwill nowserve as minister of Advanced Education butwill continue to hold the portfolio as minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour.

The ministers were sworn in at a ceremonyThursday morning at Government House.

Bilous had been minister of Municipal Affairs and minister of Service Alberta before being moved to the newly created department.

The premier announced thatBilous will also chair a cabinet committee conducting areview of the Municipal Government Act.

Rachel Notley to shuffle cabinet Thursday, just months into term

• Rachel Notley sworn in as Alberta premier, reveals cabinet

The new 13-membercabinet looks like this:

• Joe Ceci - Finance/Treasury Board president
• Sarah Hoffman - Health/Seniors.
• Kathleen Ganley - Justice/Aboriginal Affairs
• David Eggen - Education/Culture and Tourism
• Margaret Mccuaig-Boyd - Energy
• Shannon Phillips - Environment and Parks/Status of Women
• Brian Mason - Infrastructure/Transportation
• Deron Bilous - Economic development and trade
• Lori Sigurdson - Advanced Education,and Jobs, Skills, Training & Labour
• Rachel Notley -- Premier
• Oneil Carlier - Agriculture/Forestry
• Irfan Sabir - Human Services.
• Danielle Larivee - Municipal Affairs, Service Alberta