New 2025 Provincial Mandate Letter Analysis, Part 3
We’re continuing our analysis of new mandate letters issued to Alberta Ministries. These letters establish priorities and direction for each Ministry. Check out our first post on the topic for more on why mandate letters matter, how they can inform your nonprofit’s strategy, plus an analysis of the first four mandate letters released on September 17. We’ve also posted an analysis of the second set of letters released on September 22 – you can read those here.
The following cover four letters released on September 25. This is a nonpartisan review intended to support nonprofits navigating processes and partnerships within the provincial government.
New Provincial Mandate Letters
On September 28, 2025, Premier Smith issued new mandate letters to five ministers - with the possibility of more to come. See the new directives for:
Find a detailed analysis for nonprofits on the Arts, Culture, Status of Women, Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration, Tourism and Sport, and Forestry and Parks mandate letters issued last week here. Watch for a detailed analysis on more of the new mandate letters next week.
Analysis: 2025 Mandate Letter Themes
A few identifiable themes from the new mandate letters:
All new mandate letters emphasize the progress on commitments from the initial mandates, which could signal a government looking to demonstrate success.
Across ministries, economic growth and investment attraction became more explicit.
Stakeholder engagement remains a priority.
Red tape reduction remains a priority.
Equity commitments have been reduced in scope except where tied to already-developed strategies.
Cross-Ministry collaboration gained emphasis.
Analysis: Comparison by Ministry of 2023 Letters to 2025
Children and Family Services
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
More than $11.5 million of additional support has gone towards women’s shelters and sexual assault centres.
Implementing enhanced supports for foster and kinship caregivers, including increased caregiver rates.
What’s Stayed the Same
An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children youth and families
Review of Child, Youth, and Family Enhancement Act
Both stress continued collaboration with Ministry of Indigenous Relations.
What’s Different
2023 called for continued development of adoption supports to create a more efficient and effective process, this is no longer included in the 2025 mandate.
2023 direction to increase both private and nonprofit childcare spaces is no longer included in the 2025 mandate letter. This is also not included in the 2025 mandate letter for the Ministry of Education and Childcare.
2023 direction work with the federal government on $10/day daycare has been moved to the Ministry of Education and Childcare. For more information on the mandate changes to that ministry, click here.
Instruction to create a job attraction strategy for young Albertans in the childcare and related services sectors is absent in 2025.
Both 2023 and 2025 letters direct ministries to develop and implement supports to victims of domestic violence. New in 2025 is direction to work with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women in developing supports.
Direction in 2023 called for collaboration with Ministry of Mental Health and Addition for expanding youth mental health centres and supports. This is no longer included in the 2025 mandate. We are waiting to see if this is included in the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions mandate letter.
Public Safety and Emergency Services
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
Completion of the Public Safety and Emergency Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 that supports continued work related to emergency management, the Alberta Sheriff Police Service, the Police Review Commission and combatting the illicit trade of scrap metal.
Establishing an electronic monitoring program as a tool for the courts for adult bail and community sentenced clients.
The combined amendments to the Emergency Management Act, Government Emergency Management Regulation, Disaster Recovery Regulation, and the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation.
What’s Stayed the Same
Sheriffs remain central to the mandate: in 2023 as a supplementary and specialized service, in 2025 as community police providers and speciality units (border patrol, fentanyl control).
Provincial DNA lab project to continue.
Search and rescue funding/delivery remains on the agenda, moving from review (2023) to implementation (2025).
Support for Internet and Child Exploitation Teams continues, with expanded focus on human trafficking in 2025.
What’s Different
New 2025 directive to align policy priorities with government’s "policy direction to relentlessly defend Albertans’ right to lawful and safe possession of firearms and right to self-defence”.
2023 supported community policing options, while 2025 focuses on municipalities transitioning to independent police. This includes implementing a legislative and operational framework for smaller communities to choose Alberta Sheriffs as full community policing service.
2025 mandate calls for the creation of a policing framework with the Ministry of Justice to allow law enforcement to better align policing activities with Albertans public safety priorities.
2023 mandate included direction to develop a wildfire mitigation strategy to protect at risk communities. Wildfire management has been added as a priority to the Ministry of Forestry and Parks. For more information on the mandate changes to that ministry, click here.
Included in 2023 letters but missing in 2025. Watch for new letters as these may be included in other ministries:
Watch Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions for:
ensuring the safe transportation of mental health and addiction patients to appropriate health services.
ensuring police services have tools they need to support wellness and recovery while focusing on keeping communities safe.
Watch Ministry of Indigenous Relations for:
Working with Indigenous communities to address rising crime rates.
Justice
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
Amending the Alberta Bill of Rights to broaden and strengthen Albertans’ rights, with increased protections for personal autonomy, including the right against medical care or treatment without consent; strengthened property rights; and more effective enforcement of rights.
Making continual improvements to Alberta’s justice system including through various legislative initiatives to modernize and streamline processes, and judicial appointments to increase capacity.
Updating Alberta’s election statutes to improve consistency and fairness in the democratic process, including improved access to voting and time and accuracy of election results; permitting businesses and unions to make contributions related to provincial elections and direct democracy processes; and holding MLAs accountable.
What’s Stayed the Same
Continued focus on federal-provincial disputes but broadened. This includes Impact Assessment Act, carbon tax, emissions cap, clean electricity, tanker ban, toxic plastics designation, EV mandate, fertilizer, and Bill C-59.
The ministry’s role on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) has shifted from reviewing how it works to changing the law itself, including a planned prohibition on MAiD when mental illness is the sole condition.
Court modernization and capacity building (hiring more judges and staff) remains a priority
The Province is setting direction for what police should focus on by creating a policing priority framework – marking a shift from an earlier focus on detaining /prosecution violent criminals.
What’s Different
Defend Albertans’ right to possession of firearms and self-defence.
Protect the free speech rights and freedom of expression of provincially regulated professionals and post-secondary institutions.
Defend Alberta’s energy and natural resources from federal overreach.
Cross-ministry collaboration to review and reform public institution hiring practices – ensuring they are merit and competency based rather than “DEI ideology”.
Strengthen election security with Canadian citizenship identifier on driver’s licenses and ID cards.
2023 mandate called for the review of Ethics Commissioner decisions and the Conflicts of Interest Act to clarify rules and make recommendations to strengthen transparency and accountability. This is missing from 2025.
Intergovernmental and International Relations
Premier Smith is the Minister of Intergovernmental and International Relations. The mandate letter issued was to Deputy Minister Liam Stone. Please note that there is no 2023 mandate letter, therefore this comparison is based upon general responsibilities assumed by the ministry in 2023.
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
Passing the Provincial Priorities Act to stop federal overreach into areas of provincial jurisdiction.
Engaging with the President of the United States and senior officials across the U.S. to communicate the importance of Alberta energy to the United States and defended Alberta exports from tariffs.
Launching challenges to unconstitutional federal environmental regulations.
Diversifying Alberta’s export markets and attracted foreign direct investment through successful missions to Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.
What’s Stayed the Same
Continuing to manage interprovincial and federal relations to ensure Alberta’s voice in national forums and intergovernmental negotiations.
International offices and foreign missions remain central, with ongoing emphasis on trade and investment promotion.
The U.S. remains Alberta’s most important partner. The threats and implementation of tariffs from the U.S. have instigated deeper engagement efforts with international partners to defend Alberta’s energy exports.
What’s Different
The renaming of the ministry from ‘Intergovernmental Relations’ to ‘Intergovernmental and International Relations’ indicates a broadened scope.
Seeking the implementation of new offices in Abu Dhabi and Mumbai and a more active role in Eastern Canada.
Shift from intergovernmental participation to more defensive action – introducing the Provincial Priorities Act, implement legislation to protect Alberta’s role in international agreements, and launching federal regulatory reforms.
Negotiating intergovernmental agreements that respect Alberta’s constitutional authority and priorities.
Collaborating with Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration to attract military spending to Alberta.
Create an international roadmap to guide the Premier and Cabinet in growing and diversifying trade and investment opportunities for the province.
Implications for Alberta Nonprofits
Here are some suggestions for your nonprofit in light of themes that cut across all letters:
With this provincial government in mid-term and looking to demonstrate outcomes, consider how your nonprofit has contributed to any of the progress as identified in the mandate letters and how your nonprofit can contribute to demonstrable results in the outlined priorities.
Explain how your work helps people sooner, saves money later, and keeps government systems from being overwhelmed. You can formalize this in the language of both return on investment (ROI) and return on community (ROC).
Explain how your organization is either directly involved in government priorities, or helps reach the people and communities that matter for those priorities. Remind decision-makers that nonprofits never work alone: every dollar put into your work also brings in volunteers, donations, and community partners. That means the impact is multiplied — far greater than what government could achieve on its own.
Make a clear case how your nonprofit contributes to red tape reduction and include that language in all core communications. Point out that many nonprofits reduce downstream government costs and burdens by preventing crises whether in health, justice, or employment.
Prepare for reduced emphasis on diversity/inclusion mandates compared to 2023, which may mean developing targeted government relations strategies, changing core communications, and/or developing advocacy strategies to support the communities you serve. Even though equity language has been trimmed from mandate letters, nonprofits can argue that equity work isn’t “extra”, it’s a driver of stronger labour markets, safer communities, and innovation. Nonprofits can surface community voices that government might otherwise miss.
Build partnerships across ministries as cross-ministry collaboration is emphasized.
Here are suggestions based on individual mandate letter analysis*:
Consider updating your messaging and communications to demonstrate how your work strengthens local capacity and Alberta-led solutions, reducing dependency on federal programs or initiatives.
Prepare for new funding opportunities tied to government commitments to address human trafficking and online child exploitation and seek out more information from the Ministry if your mission aligns with this priority.
Watch for the new mandate letter to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction for further insight as there is reduced emphasis on mental health and addictions within letters to Public Safety and Emergencies and Justice.
If your organization provides legal services or support, make sure your core messages include how your work reinforces administrative support, development of system efficiencies and new approaches to legal remedies, both inside and outside courthouses.
For nonprofits with an international or interprovincial lens (immigration, trade, human rights, cultural exchange), there may be openings to align with Alberta’s new global presence. Positioning programs as advancing Alberta’s reputation abroad or improving labour mobility could resonate.
*In previous analyses, we’ve provided some suggestions for how nonprofits can continue to engage with the Government of Alberta within their ministry's new directions. This list refers to the ministries included in this analysis. If you’d like to learn more about how your organization may be impacted and what you can do, check out our other posts where we’ve shared other ministry specific action suggestions.