Hunter sworn in as new Minister of Environment and Protected Areas

Posted on January 8, 2026 by admin

By Trevor Busch
Westwind Weekly News
editor@tabertimes.com

Taber-Warner MLA Grant Hunter has been appointed as Alberta’s next Minister of Environment and Protected Areas following a Dec. 31 announcement from Premier Danielle Smith.

“On Jan. 2, the Honourable Grant Hunter, MLA for Taber-Warner and Associate Minister for Water (was) sworn in as Alberta’s new Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. He brings with him years of experience as an MLA and minister, having previously served as the Associate Minister for Red Tape Reduction.”

The surprise announcement sees minister Rebecca Schulz stepping down from her current role.

“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,” said Smith in a statement. “Rebecca previously served as the Minister of Children Services and as the Minister of Municipal Affairs. I have accepted her resignation from cabinet effective Jan. 2, 2026 and look forward to continuing to work closely with her as she continues to serve as the MLA for Calgary-Shaw and as a member of our UCP caucus until the spring. I wish Rebecca and her family all the best when she seeks new career opportunities.”

During the swearing in ceremony on Jan. 2 in Edmonton, Smith was effusive in her praise of Hunter in taking on the new ministerial role.

“Grant Hunter is no stranger to cabinet, he previously served as the Associate Minister of Red Tape Reduction and Associate Minister of Water, as well as our Chief Government Whip. He’s been an MLA since 2015 bringing more than a decade of experience across a variety of roles. His constituents of Taber-Warner will have benefitted from his wisdom and dedication now for many years, and he will bring that same perspective to his new role as Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.”

In a later media availability on Jan. 2, Smith outlined where she believes Hunter will be focused once he settles into the portfolio in the new year.

“What I anticipate with Minister Hunter – because he has already been our Associate Minister of Water – is that he will focus on a lot of water issues and internal issues on the environment related to zebra mussels and ensuring that we are protecting our irrigation system against that. We’ve got a new water transfer system to create more transparency, we’ve got continuing monitoring and implementation of our new tailings ponds policies, we have monitoring that we need to do of air and water to ensure that they are within reasonable limits, we’ve got methane regulations as well that need to be implemented with the pathway to get to 75 per cent reduction by 2035. So he’s going to be very busy on all of those.”

In a statement provided to Southern Alberta Newspapers on Jan. 5, Hunter says he hopes to continue to advance the agenda of the previous minister.

“I am honoured and thrilled to get to work after being sworn in as Alberta’s new Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. I look forward to continue building on the work and success of Minister Rebecca Schulz and fulfilling the mandate given to me by our Premier Danielle Smith.”

“I will have more to say in the coming weeks.”

MLA Wright will be taking over Hunter’s role as Chief Government Whip as the Taber-Warner MLA’s portfolio is expanded.

“MLA for Cypress-Medicine Hat, Justin Wright will become the Chief Government Whip for the United Conservative Caucus,” said Smith in her Dec. 31 announcement. “I’d like to offer my congratulations to both Grant and Justin as they take on these new roles and responsibilities.”