Alberta Premier's Office Expands Communications Budget to $38 Million Amidst Oversight Transfer

The Alberta government has significantly expanded the budget and staffing of its communications department, transferring responsibility for the Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) branch directly to the Premier's office. An Order in Council on April 29, 2025, quietly shifted the department from Treasury Board and Finance to the Executive Council, placing it under the direct purview of Premier Danielle Smith. This move has drawn public scrutiny, with social media users, such as Danielle Newnham, remarking, > "This seems like a very odd bit of PR from a government body…"

The restructuring will integrate approximately 288 full-time employees into the Executive Council, operating with an annual budget of $38 million. Premier Smith's press secretary, Sam Blackett, confirmed the details of the expanded department. This change marks a notable increase in the resources dedicated to government communications within the Premier's direct control.

Historically, the government communications branch, previously known as the public affairs bureau, was moved out of the Executive Council in 2017 by the then-Alberta NDP government. That decision followed years of complaints from opposition parties who alleged the branch was being utilized as a propaganda arm for the premier's office. The current administration's decision reverses this previous separation.

Critics suggest that centralizing such a large communications apparatus directly under the Premier's office could raise concerns about transparency and potential politicization of government information. The move is seen by some as a strategic consolidation of messaging, aimed at ensuring consistent communication aligned with the Premier's agenda. The long-term implications for public trust and journalistic access to independent government information remain a key point of discussion.