EDMONTON – As Premier Jim Prentice named the people who would make up Alberta’s cabinet – including two unelected ministers – Albertans were quick to react.
The Prentice cabinet has 16 ministers, three associate ministers, and the premier – who is taking over two portfolios himself.
That’s down from 19 ministers and 10 associate ministers in Alison Redford’s cabinet.
“As of this moment, Alberta is under new management,” Prentice said. “This is a new government with new leadership, new voices and a new way of doing things.
“Today and in the days and weeks to come, we will take strong and decisive action to bring real and tangible change to the way in which Alberta is governed.”
The Official Opposition doesn’t see the new cabinet as a positive change. In fact, leader Danielle Smith calls is “more of the same.”
“You’ve got 15 of the same ministers who were at the table in the Redford era. There have been two promotions – but again, into junior positions – and the two individuals who are new, responsible for the most important portfolios of health care and education, are going to now be distracted by a by-election and they don’t have the same accountability because they’re outside the legislature.”
“It also does demonstrate how shallow the talent pool is in the PC party,” Smith added.
In addition to being smaller, the new cabinet includes two people who aren’t members of the legislature, which is allowed, but hasn’t been done in Alberta since the 1930s.
Former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel was named Minister of Health.
“He pretty well had to appoint him,” said Bob Murray with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy. “Obviously there was some kind of deal made from the outset as to why Mandel didn’t seek the leadership himself. The fact that they had worked very closely throughout Prentice’s campaign, he was very visible on the transition team.”
Former Calgary Board of Education member Gordon Dirks was named Minister of Education.
“The Dirks appointment caught everybody off guard, I think,” said Murray. “Somebody right out of nowhere. The one thing that Dirks brings of course, is political experience from his time in Saskatchewan under the Devine government, as a staunch progressive conservative. Also, he appeases some of that social conservative element, based on his background. Also the fact that he has serious education background having run the Calgary Board of Education.”
“To me, what that says is this is aimed directly at the Wildrose’s base of support,” said Murray.
Mandel, Dirks and Prentice will seek seats in by-elections that will be held prior to the fall sitting, said the premier.
NDP leader Brian Mason said Prentice’s cabinet puts government credibility in question.
“Prentice has appointed two unelected cabinet ministers to very important portfolios: Stephen Mandel to Health and Gordon Dirks to Education. Without a seat in the legislature these ministers have no mandate from Albertans, and no accountability for their performance,” said Mason.
Murray said the Mandel and Dirks appointments were a highlight.
“I think the most striking part of this was the fact that he did appoint two unelected people into cabinet,” added Murray. “What will remain to be seen of course, is what happens next with the by-election.”
“He still intends to try to seek a seat to sit in the fall session, so this is going to have to be called right off the bat.”
(Watch above: Alberta Premier Jim Prentice makes a speech following his swearing in and cabinet announcement)
“You saw a significant shuffle,” said Murray. “Some people were elevated based on their support of Prentice throughout the campaign, some people demoted – some notable demotions, from Doug Horner and Fred Horne – which was kind of expected based on the recent past.”
READ MORE: Jim Prentice’s cabinet: Who’s in and who’s out?
“Some more competent MLAs were passed over because of their close association with Redford,” said Mason. “Instead, Prentice has appointed inexperienced, weak ministers, who were just as closely tied to Redford, though not as publicly involved in PC scandals.” Mason specifically named Diana McQueen, Ric McIver, Stephen Khan, and Wayne Drysdale.
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.
Doug Horner (former minister of finance), Fred Horne (former minister of health), Doug Griffiths (former minister of Service Alberta) and Thomas Lukaszuk (former minister of Job Skills and Training) are now backbenchers. However, Prentice said Horner will serve as special adviser on international issues to the premier.
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