(Watch above: Jim Prentice is sworn in as premier and his cabinet announced)
EDMONTON – After being sworn in as Alberta’s 16th premier Monday afternoon, Jim Prentice unveiled his new, trimmed-down cabinet.
After his PC leadership victory, Prentice promised he would work to restore Albertans’ faith in government. During his campaign, he focused on “new leadership” and “good government.”
Political experts said his new cabinet was his first chance to signal a real shift from the Alison Redford government.
“This is a new Progressive Conservative government, with new leadership,” said Prentice after the swearing in.
Cabinet Highlights
Prentice announced six new faces to cabinet, two from outside caucus: Stephen Mandel, Maureen Kubinec (MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock), Stephen Khan (MLA for St. Albert), Ric McIver (second in leadership race), David Dorward (MLA for Edmonton-Gold Bar) and Gordon Dirks.
Stephen Mandel, former mayor of Edmonton was named Minister of Health. He and Dirks became the first unelected cabinet ministers in Alberta since the 1930s. Gordon Dirks, a former Calgary school board chair, was appointed Minister of Education.
“Bringing in new government means bringing in new blood,” said Prentice, adding that Mandel and Dirks would begin work immediately.
He said a by-election will be held before the legislature sits in the fall, in which the unelected cabinet members must win a seat.
“The same goes for their boss.”
In addition to serving as premier, Prentice himself took the posts of Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations, and Minister of Aboriginal Relations.
Robin Campbell was promoted to finance minister from environment and sustainable resource development. Diana McQueen moves to municipal affairs from energy, and Frank Oberle takes over energy.
Those on executive council whose portfolios will not change are: Minister of Agriculture Verlyn Olson, Minister of Justice Jonathan Denis, Minister of Transportation Wayne Drysdale, and Associate Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities Naresh Bhardwaj.
Several high-profile ministers under Redford’s government no longer hold their positions. Doug Horner and Fred Horne will no longer serve as ministers of finance and health.
However, Horner will serve as an advisor to the premier on trade, said Prentice.
“The job of building Alberta is not done,” said Prentice. “Effective today, Alberta is under new management.”
(Watch above: Alberta Premier Jim Prentice speaks about his government’s priorities after being sworn in)
Who’s In?
ROBIN CAMPELL
Formerly: Minister of Environment & Sustainable Resource Development
Currently: Minister of Finance, MLA for West-Yellowhead, a member of Prentice’s transition team
STEPHEN MANDEL
Formerly: Edmonton mayor
Currently: Minister of Health, member of Prentice’s transition team
DIANA MCQUEEN
Formerly: Minister of Energy
Currently: Minister of Municipal Affairs, MLA for Drayton Valley-Devon
FRANK OBERLE
Formerly: Minister of Aboriginal Relations
Currently: Minister of Energy, MLA for Peace River
GORDON DIRKS
Formerly: Calgary Board of Education Chair
Currently: Minister of Education
MANMEET BHULAR
Formerly: Minister of Human Services
Currently: Minister of Infrastructure, MLA for Calgary-Greenway
JONATHAN DENIS
Formerly: Minister of Justice & Solicitor General
Currently: Minister of Justice & Solicitor General, MLA for Calgary-Acadia
HEATHER KLIMCHUK
Formerly: Minister of Culture
Currently: Minister of Human Services, MLA for Edmonton-Glenora
KYLE FAWCETT
Formerly: Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training & Labour
Currently: Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, MLA for Calgary-Klein
VERLYN OLSON
Formerly: Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development
Currently: Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development, MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose
JEFF JOHNSON
Formerly: Minister of Education
Currently: Minister of Seniors, MLA for Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater
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DON SCOTT
Formerly: Assoc. Minister of Acountability, Transparency & Transportation
Currently: Minister of Innovation and Advanced Education, MLA for Fort McMurray-Conklin
MAUREEN KUBINC
Formerly: MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock
Currently: Minister of Culture and Tourism
WAYNE DRYSDALE
Formerly: Minister of Transportation
Currently: Minister of Transporation, MLA for Grande Prairie-Wapiti
STEPHEN KHAN
Formerly: MLA for St. Albert
Currently: Minister of Service Alberta
RIC MCIVER
Formerly: Minister of Infrastructure, second in PC leadership race
Currently: Minister of Jobs, Skills, Labour and Training, MLA for Calgary-Hays
TERESA WOO-PAW
Formerly: Assoc. Minister of International & Intergovernmental Relations
Currently: Assoc. Minister of Asia-Pacific Relations, MLA for Calgary-Northern Hills
DAVID DORWARD
Formerly: MLA for Edmonton-Gold Bar
Currently: Assoc. Minister of Aboriginal Relations
NARESH BHARDWAJ
Formerly: Assoc. Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities
Currently: Assoc. Minister of Services for Persons with Disabilities, MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie
Who’s Out?
DAVE HANCOCK
Formerly: Premier, Minister of Innovation & Advanced Education
Currently: Hancock resigned his seat as an MLA on Friday
DOUG HORNER
Formerly: Minister of Finance
Currently: Special advisor to premier on trade, MLA for Spruce Grove-St. Albert
FRED HORNE
Formerly: Minister of Health
Currently: MLA for Edmonton-Rutherford
THOMAS LUKASZUK
Formerly: Minister of Advanced Education, third in PC leadership race
Currently: MLA for Edmonton-Castle Downs
CAL DALLAS
Formerly: Minister of International & Intergovernmental Relations
Currently: MLA for Red Deer-South
DOUG GRIFFITHS
Formerly: Minister of Service Alberta
Currently: MLA for Battle River-Wainwright
GREG WEADICK
Formerly: Minister of Municipal Affairs
Currently: MLA for Lethbridge-West
RICHARD STARKE
Formerly: Minister of Tourism, Parks & Recreation
Currently: MLA for Vermilion-Lloydminster
RICK FRASER
Formerly: Assoc. Minister of Public Safety
Currently: MLA for Calgary-South East
SANDRA JANSEN
Formerly: Assoc. Minister of Family & Community Safety
Currently: MLA for Calgary-North West
DAVE QUEST
Formerly: Assoc. Minister of Seniors
Currently: MLA for Strathcona-Sherwood Park
DAVE RODNEY
Formerly: Assoc. Minister of Wellness
Currently: MLA for Calgary-Lougheed
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