New 2025 Provincial Mandate Letter Analysis, Part 4
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 and third set of letters released on September 25.
The following covers the four letters released on October 2. This is a nonpartisan review intended to support nonprofits navigating processes and partnerships within the provincial government.
New Provincial Mandate Letters
On Thursday, October 2, the Premier of Alberta issued new mandate letters to four Ministers. See the new directives for:
Mandate letters are issued at the beginning of a term, and these are new letters coming mid-way through this election cycle, with the next provincial election expected in 2027.
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
Environment and Protected Areas
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
Cut Water Act permit wait times for licenses by 60 per cent though a streamlined approval system.
Implementing the Extended Producer Responsibility system for household recycling, leading to savings for taxpayers and keeping more waste out of landfills.
Co-leading Alberta’s response to federal overreach into provincial jurisdiction to combat the oil and gas emissions cap, electricity regulations, amendments to the federal Competition Act, attempts to ban and restrict the use of plastics, the federal Impact Assessment Act and Species at Risk Act.
What’s Stayed the Same
Continued focus on defending Alberta’s jurisdiction against federal environmental overreach, maintaining collaboration with Energy and Justice.
Ongoing implementation use of the Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan.
Water management, land-use planning, and reclamation remain core responsibilities, balancing environmental conservation with access for municipalities, industry, and agriculture.
The Technology, Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) program remains the central funding and policy mechanism for emissions reduction.
The ministry will continue to emphasize technology and innovation to reduce emissions.
Attention to cross-provincial alliances – working with other provinces to resist federal environmental policies – reflecting a more intergovernmental strategy.
What’s Different
2025 directives place stronger emphasis on defending Alberta’s natural resource autonomy from federal government policies, especially around industrial emissions, electricity regulation, and plastics.
2023’s focus on circular economy development (plastics recycling and producer responsibility) is less pronounced in 2025, likely considered completed or deprioritized.
Broader public messaging around Alberta as a “global energy leader” has replaced 2023’s detailed climate and biodiversity commitments.
Collaboration with other ministries to optimize and expand water treatment facilities and infrastructure across the province.
Assert full authority in dealing with the Species at Risk habitats.
Energy and Minerals
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
Developing the Alberta Carbon Capture Incentive Program (ACCIP) that will provide major industries with up to 12 per cent of new eligible capital project costs, attracting investment, reducing emissions, creating jobs, and providing other economic benefits for Albertans.
Establishing the Mineral Resource Development Act and related regulatory regimes for brine-hosted and rock-hosted minerals, supporting the province’s strategy and action plan to capitalize on Alberta’s mineral potential.
What’s Stayed the Same
Continued emphasis on defending Alberta’s jurisdiction over energy policy and opposing federal overreach, particularly regarding emissions caps and clean electricity regulations.
Priority on regulation efficiency and red-tape reduction to strengthen investor confidence and accelerate project approvals.
Commitment to Indigenous economic participation and partnerships in resource development.
What’s Different
Explicit 2023 goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 has been replaced by a focus on “realistic emissions management” and competitiveness, marking a shift away from a fixed net-zero target.
Focus from promoting renewables and world-class energy standards has changed to promoting and increasing oil and gas production and pipelines. 2025 roadmap to reach 6 million barrels of Alberta oil production per day by 2030 and 8 million by 2035.
Increased focus in 2025 to collaborate with Indigenous communities to advance oil and gas pipelines and projects. Directive to work with Ministry of Indigenous Relations and the Ministry of Transportation and Economic Corridors to build pipelines to Northwest British Columbia, Hudson’s Bay and Ontario.
2025 introduction of an industry-led reclamation fund and performance-based incentives for wellsite reclamation – moving from government strategy to financial innovation.
New emphasis on the processing of critical minerals to increase Alberta’s share within global markets.
Broader cross-ministry collaboration now includes Treasury Board and Finance to ensure alignment between energy development incentives and fiscal responsibility.
Ensuring high global competitiveness for Alberta’s energy sectors has shifted from conventional, non-conventional and emerging energy sectors in 2023 to just oil and gas in 2025.
2025 directive to create an expedited 120-day approval process for priority projects designated to be in the provincial interest.
Agriculture and Irrigation
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
Alberta attracting more than $3.8 billion into the agri-processing sector over the past two years, six times more than the average of previous periods, leading to the creation of over 1,800 jobs for Albertans.
Amending the Agricultural Operation Practices Act to better enable the management of off-farm organic material.
What’s Stayed the Same
2023 and 2025 have an emphasis on supporting irrigation infrastructure and water management for agricultural producers.
Both focus on the productivity and viability of agricultural land, ensuring that agriculture remains strong, stable, and forward-looking.
Continued development on preclearance exports for Alberta products.
What’s Different
In both letters, the ministry is instructed to cut red-tape to help agriculture become more competitive in both national and international markets. 2025 shifts from policy direction to the “Alberta Agriculture First” legislative approach.
Increased emphasis in 2025 to strengthen Alberta’s agriculture sector by reversing any federal policies that add red tape or expenses on Alberta farmers and ranchers in getting their products to market.
Explicit attention in 2025 to prioritize practices that benefit soil health and biodiversity on agricultural land while also increasing the availability and affordability of fertilizer for Alberta farmers.
In 2025 there is a clearer connection between agricultural competitiveness and consumer food security/market access. “Increasing consumer choice” was not present in 2023.
Indigenous Relations
Progress on 2023 Commitments (Verbatim from the new mandate letter)
The expansion of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation loan guarantee capacity to $2 billion in 2023 and $3 billion in 2024/25.
The expansion of the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation authorized projects to include tourism, technology and health care.
The continued implementation of protocol agreements with the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, Blackfoot Confederacy, the Stoney Nakoda – Tsuut’ina Tribal Council, and the Metis Settlements General Council.
What’s Stayed the Same
Continued emphasis on economic partnerships and reconciliation with First Nations, Métis settlements, and Indigenous communities.
Ongoing collaboration with Children and Family services on the implementation of Bill C-92 (an Act respecting First Nation, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families).
Focus on economic development, including Indigenous participation in Alberta’s energy and resource sectors.
Commitment to violence prevention and safety for Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people, though broader social equity language has been reduced.
Continued leadership role for Ministry of Indigenous Relations in coordinating with other ministries on necessary service infrastructure (e.g., electricity, natural gas, internet connections, water systems).
What’s Different
The 2025 letter places a stronger focus on economic autonomy and resource development (consistent reference to pipelines) rather than social policy partnerships.
2025 direction to “overhaul of all Trudeau-era anti resource development laws damaging the Alberta economy” and call on the Federal Government to “better fulfill their obligations”.
Less explicit reference to reconciliation frameworks or cultural initiatives. The 2025 letter emphasizes more investment, infrastructure, and participation in Alberta’s growth.
Collaboration with Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction is emphasized beyond the strengthening of recovery programs. 2025 calls for collaboration with Indigenous communities to implement the Compassionate Intervention Act by 2027.
Language around equality, rights, and inclusion has been trimmed, with a more operational and economic framing of relationships.
No mention of Jordan’s Principle , which in 2023 guided equitable access to services for Indigenous people.
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*:
Organizations involved with resource management, infrastructure, or the environment should consider performing an opportunity-risk assessment with any external relationships as we see a shift towards Alberta-led projects and innovation.
The government emphasizes self-sufficiency, competitiveness, and economic participation. Highlighting how your organization's work drives investment readiness, workforce development, or local prosperity may be advantageous.
With increased focus on practicality, innovation, and cost-effectiveness for environmental programming and projects, be prepared to engage in advocacy where community concerns arise.
Promoting your involvement in export development, Indigenous trade, clean tech, or workforce mobility would align with the government’s goal of highlighting Alberta’s global and interprovincial presence.
With cultural and social language largely absent from 2025 mandate letters, be aware of any changes that could raise challenges or opportunities for your organization’s values and mission.
*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.