Rebecca Schulz

Rebecca Schulz (born July 30, 1984) is a Canadian politician who was elected in the 2019 Alberta general election to represent the electoral district of Calgary-Shaw in the 30th Alberta Legislature.

She is a member of the United Conservative Party. She was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta as the Minister of Children's Services on April 30, 2019, by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

Schulz was a candidate for leader of the United Conservative Party in 2022 following the resignation of Premier Jason Kenney as leader. Schulz placed fourth.

After the leadership race election, Premier Danielle Smith appointed Rebecca Schulz as the Minister of Municipal Affairs, she was sworn in on October 24, 2022. Since June 9, 2023, she serves as Alberta's Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.

Background
Schulz holds a Master's degree in Communication from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English from the University of Saskatchewan.

Rebecca Schulz first got involved in politics in 2009 when she worked in the Office of the 14th Premier of Saskatchewan, Brad Wall. She also worked as an event coordinator at the University of Ottawa - L'Hereux Dubé Social Justice Fund for seven months, a senior communications officer at SaskEnergy, and a media relations officer at the Government of Saskatchewan. Then, Rebecca Schulz worked as a manager of media relations at Saskatchewan Government Insurance from 2012 to 2013, and as Director of Communications at the Ministry of Education in the Government of Saskatchewan. Just before becoming an MLA, she worked as Director of Alumni Marketing and Communications at the University of Calgary.

Rebecca Schulz grew in a small town in Saskatchewan. She and her husband, Cole moved to Alberta, and they have two young children.

Minister of Children's Services (2019–2022)
Schulz was appointed to the Executive Council of Alberta as the Minister of Children's Services on April 30, 2019, by Alberta Premier Jason Kenney.

As the Minister of Children's Services, she sponsored Bill 39, the Child Care Licensing (Early Learning and Child Care) Amendment Act, 2020. The bill passed on December 1, 2020. This Act is to be interpreted and applied in a manner that supports and preserves the safety, security, well-being, and development of the child in addition to flexible childcare choice and accessibility for families. Lastly, it seeks to engage parents, guardians, and community members in the provision of childcare supports the child's optimal development.

2022 Leadership Bid
On June 14, 2022, Schulz resigned as the Minister of Children's Services and announced her candidacy in the 2022 United Conservative Party leadership election following the resignation of Premier Jason Kenney as leader. Her leadership campaign was supported by co-chairs Rona Ambrose, Calgary MP Stephanie Kusie, MLA Jeremy Nixon, MLA Ric McIver, and MLA Jason Copping. Schulz placed fourth in the leader race and was eliminated with 8.4% of the vote in the fourth round.

Her main platform items focused on healthcare, education, and uniting the United Conservative Party. "I want our grassroots party members to know that in me, they will have somebody who will always listen and hear their concerns, hear where they're coming from," Min. Schulz told a reporter during her leadership campaign.

Min. Schulz also suggested implementing a "small business tax holiday" for small business owners in Alberta. This policy proposal was put forward by Min. Schulz due to, as she puts it, the economic struggle felt by small business owners during the COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta. "I absolutely believe that these entrepreneurs are at the heart of the entrepreneurial spirit we were talking about," Schulz stated. "They are absolutely vital to our province's economic growth, and recovery."

Minister of Municipal Affairs (2022–2023)
After the leadership race election, Premier Danielle Smith appointed Rebecca Schulz as the Minister of Municipal Affairs, she was sworn in on October 24, 2022.

Minister of Environment and Protected Areas (2023–Ongoing)
Since June 9, 2023, Minister Schulz serves as the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas under Premier Danielle Smith's leadership.

Her mandate includes defending Alberta's energy sector, especially from federal overreach, working with the Minister of Energy and Minerals on provincial frameworks to develop the province's energy sector and reduce emissions, and reviewing Alberta's water management strategy, which would increase water availability and licenses notably in municipalities.