Alberta Finance Minister Nate Horner and Hospitals Minister Matt Jones resigned from Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservative Party (UCP) cabinet Wednesday, hours before a scheduled shuffle Thursday, in departures both men framed as personal but that drew immediate scrutiny given their known opposition to Alberta separation.
Both announced on social media that they will not seek re-election in the October 2027 provincial election, and said their successors should build the election-year budget rather than inherit it mid-term. Smith posted a tribute crediting both ministers with strong records in their portfolios.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi publicly linked the resignations to their stated opposition to a possible separation referendum. Horner had already gone on record saying, “I’ve run against separatist candidates. So no, I don’t think that she should do that, but I’ll let her comment.” Jones echoed the same position.
A spokesperson for Horner declined to address Nenshi’s suggestion, pointing back to the resignation statement.
Read: Alberta Separatists Submit 300,000 Signatures to Trigger Independence Referendum
Separatist group Stay Free Alberta submitted more than 300,000 signatures to Elections Alberta on May 4, seeking to trigger an independence referendum. A judge quashed that approval on May 13, ruling the process failed to account for an earlier decision that separation would violate Indigenous treaty rights. The group’s leader, Mitch Sylvestre, said he still expects Smith to call a vote. Smith has said she personally opposes separation but has committed to respecting a successful citizen-led petition process.
Read: Alberta’s Top Election Official Blocks Separation Referendum
Horner, the MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, served as Finance Minister and President of the Treasury Board following the UCP’s 2023 election win. Jones, the MLA for Calgary-South East, held the Hospital and Surgical Health Services portfolio.
Both won their seats in 2019 under then-premier Jason Kenney. The shuffle on Thursday installs new ministers in both roles.
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