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 (the Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II) are now honorary members of the council and are styled "the Honourable" for life (unless removed from membership for an indictable offence). Members and honorary members use the post-nominal letters "ECA".[1]
The executive powers in the province lie with the lieutenant governor and are exercised on the advice of the premier of Alberta and Executive Council of Alberta. The lieutenant governor is restricted by custom and constitutional convention. The Lieutenant Governor performs constitutional, ceremonial and social duties.[2] The current premier is Danielle Smith, who was sworn in as the 19th premier on October 11, 2022.
Membership
The Executive Council of Alberta 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 is referred to as 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 (although the royal prerogative belongs to the Crown, not to any of the ministers) and ministers account to the legislature for their portfolios.[3]
