Getting to Know the Parliamentary Secretaries
Source: Alberta.ca
Last week, eight MLAs were officially sworn-in as parliamentary secretaries at a ceremony held in the Queen Elizabeth II Building (formerly known as the Federal Building). The roster has been constructed with a mix of rookie and veteran representatives along with some new portfolio titles, giving us an excellent opportunity to share a little more about who they are and what their role will be.
Before we get to the individuals, let’s talk a little more about the role of a parliamentary secretary in a Westminster system.
In short, parliamentary secretaries are appointed to their roles to assist ministers with their mandate and parliamentary responsibilities. According to the Library of Parliament, “parliamentary secretaries handle routine matters in the House of Commons, engage in committee work as non‑voting members, and assume some extra‑parliamentary responsibilities. Thus, parliamentary secretaries act as a link between ministers and other parliamentarians. Some may be given special assignments as well.”
These elected officials are generally given a title that reflects the priorities and focus of their work under the ministry which they have been assigned to work. It’s difficult to define the specific tasks they are responsible for as it varies from role to role, but generally their work can be tied to research, outreach, policy development, project management, and ministerial support.
While this does come with a greater workload than that of a backbench MLA, there is plenty of potential upside for those who agree to take on such positions.
“Moreover, the office can serve as a training ground for future ministers or as a way of rewarding members of the government caucus.” – Library of Parliament
Without further delay, let us dive right in.
Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk – Settlement Servies and Ukrainian Evacuees
Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville
MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk is entering her second term as a United Conservative MLA and will be taking on a familiar role. Towards the end of the last Legislature, she was appointed as the parliamentary secretary for Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement. It is expected that she will continue much of the same work she previously undertook. She is also a former associate minister for the status of women.
Coming from Ukrainian decent, Armstrong-Homeniuk has served on the Advisory Council on Alberta-Ukraine Relations. She is quoted as saying “having served previously as the Parliamentary Secretary for Ukrainian Refugee Settlement, I am grateful to continue advocating on behalf of the Ukrainian people. My goal is to ensure all Ukrainian evacuees in Alberta are welcomed, supported, and given a space for their concerns to be heard.”
Andrew Boitchenko – Indigenous Relations
Drayton Valley-Devon
As MLA Andrew Boitchenko is our key influencer in this issue of The NEWS, you can read more about him in his dedicated article here.
Chantelle de Jonge – Affordability and Utilities
Chestermere-Strathmore
MLA de Jonge is commencing her first term as an elected official having won the riding previously held by Leela Aheer. She is the youngest MLA on the UCP roster and is a first-generation Canadian (her father immigrated from the Netherlands). She earned a degree with distinction in economics and philosophy from the University of Calgary.
Coming from an economic background, her appointment to this role may be foreshadowing of a possible promotion in a future cabinet shuffle. She is also the former president of the Calgary Dental Assistants Association. While her nomination was far from what most would call “normal”, she earned the trust of her party early, having opportunities to speak at press conferenced during the 2023 provincial election.
On the StrathmoreNow website, she told readers that "in my new role as Parliamentary Secretary, affordability is a top concern for Alberta. Our government is proactively doing all it can to stabilize and lower the costs of utilities, housing, food, insurance and other needed services."
Shane Getson – Economic Corridor Development
Lac Ste. Anne-Parkland
Much like MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk, MLA Getson will be continuing on in his previous role with a new name. He was appointed to his current position shortly after Premier Danielle Smith won the United Conservative Party leadership race in October 2022. He has also been sworn-in as the government whip for this new Legislature, the first time he has held the title.
Prior to entering politics, Getson attended NAIT to study civil engineering technology and owned a projects consulting company. When he was re-elected, he told the Mayerthorpe Freelancer that “I’m looking forward to getting back to the portfolio and moving forward on a bunch of the bigger projects.”
Grant Hunter – Agri-Food Development
Taber-Warner
MLA Hunter is one of the longest-serving officials in the United Conservative Party as he begins his third term. He first entered the Legislature as an elected member as a Wildrose MLA in 2015. Since then, he has held a number of legislative and party roles, including deputy whip, labour critic, and shadow minister for transportation and technology as well as jobs, skills, training, labour and red tape reduction.
He also served as the associate minister of red tape reduction under former Premier Jason Kenney.
As his title implies, MLA Hunter will work closely with Minister RJ Sigurdson in the agriculture and irrigation portfolio. He will assist with “promoting the newly passed agrifood tax credit with a view to accelerating international and domestic business attraction and investment” according to Minister Sigurdson’s mandate letter (in addition to other responsibilities).
Martin Long – Rural Health
West Yellowhead
The former parliamentary secretary for small business will be taking on a new role in this UCP government. It is no secret that access to healthcare in rural parts of the province has been a concern for the last number of years, so he will be taking on an incredibly important role. He will work closely with new minister of health, Adriana LaGrange.
Before entering politics, MLA Long spent years working in a pulp mill in Whitecourt and as a power engineer in the oil and gas industry.
Scott Sinclair – Indigenous Policing
Lesser Slave Lake
As the only Indigenous UCP MLA this term, MLA Sinclair will be a critical voice in Caucus and in Indigenous Relations under Minister Rick Wilson. He is entering his first term in office. "My story is maybe unique today, but one day hopefully it's not, and I look forward to serving the people and being a leader that is both collaborative, positive and somebody people can be proud of.”
Back in April 2023, the provincial government announced a feasibility grant for municipalities and Indigenous communities to research if they would benefit from their own police service (instead of the RCMP). In 2022, Siksika Nation and the province had announced an agreement that would enable the First Nation to set up their own police force. It is expected MLA Sinclair’s role will involve working with Indigenous communities across the province that express an interest in following suit.
Tany Yao – Small Business and Northern Development
Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo
Like MLA Hunter, Yao is entering his third term in the Legislature as they were Caucus colleagues in the Wildrose days. He has served in a number of roles since he was elected in 2015 but this will be his first in an economic development capacity. He most recently served as the parliamentary secretary for rural health.
Despite being removed as part of the official name of the ministry, northern development will continue to fall under the umbrella of Jobs, Economy and Trade which is led by Minister Matt Jones. While the information related to MLA Yao’s position is limited in the ministerial mandate letter, it is expected he will play a role in “remov(ing) barriers to growth and development of Alberta’s airports, with special attention to regional airports” as both Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray were specifically listed in that line item.