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November 24, 2004
Klein names new Cabinet, reorganizes some portfolios
Creation of Advanced Education portfolio recognizes postsecondary as a priority
Edmonton... New faces at the Cabinet table and new assignments for Cabinet veterans are the highlights of the new Cabinet team named by Premier Ralph Klein.
"This Cabinet brings together experience and new perspectives, and I believe those who now sit at the Cabinet table are the best team to lead Alberta into its centennial year and beyond," said Klein.
The new Cabinet make-up includes a new ministry and some changes to old portfolios. With the increased emphasis on post-secondary education in the government's 20-year strategic plan, the former ministry of Learning has been split into Education (for K-12 education) and Advanced Education (for postsecondary education). The old Finance and Revenue portfolios have been merged into a single Finance ministry. The previous Infrastructure and Transportation portfolios have been combined into one Infrastructure and Transportation ministry.
The Seniors ministry has had responsibility for community supports added, including the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped and Persons with Development Disabilities programs, and is therefore renamed Seniors and Community Supports.
The newly created portfolio of Restructuring and Government Efficiency will include responsibility for the Alberta Corporate Service Centre (previously under Government Services) and the Corporate Chief Information Officer (formerly with Innovation and Science). The Restructuring and Government Efficiency Minister will also be responsible for developing ideas and policies to streamline the delivery of government services.
"The new restructuring ministry will help government in focusing on its most-important job, which is providing programs and services to Albertans effectively and efficiently," Klein said. "The job is not about reductions or cutbacks. It's about improving and simplifying, as much as possible, the organization of government."
Klein also commented on the other structural changes. "The new Finance ministry brings in the former Revenue department to once again offer a seamless, single ministry responsible for overall fiscal policy. With the development of our new Capital Plan process, which combines transportation and infrastructure initiatives, it made sense to merge the two departments. And the new Advanced Education ministry will bring a timely focus to the role of postsecondary education for Alberta's future," said Klein.
"I'm also pleased to note that two MLAs will sit at the Cabinet table as Caucus Liaisons," Klein noted. "Cindy Ady (Calgary-Shaw) will represent southern Alberta, and Hector Goudreau (Dunvegan-Central Peace) will represent northern Alberta."
The new Cabinet will be sworn in at a ceremony at Government House at 11:00 a.m. on November 25. The first meeting of Cabinet will be at 2:00 p.m. that day in the Legislature Cabinet Room.
Below is the make-up of the new Cabinet, with members listed in order of precedence.
Ralph Klein (Calgary-Elbow) - Premier, President of Executive Council, Chair of Agenda and Priorities, Vice-Chair of Treasury Board, Minister responsible for the Public Affairs Bureau.
Shirley McClellan (Drumheller-Stettler) - Deputy Premier, Minister of Finance, Chair of Treasury Board, Vice-Chair of Agenda and Priorities Committee.
David Hancock (Edmonton-Whitemud) - Minister of Advanced Education
Ron Stevens (Calgary Glenmore) - Minister of Justice and Attorney General
Iris Evans (Sherwood Park) - Minister of Health and Wellness
Ed Stelmach (Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville) - Minister of International and Intergovernmental Relations
Gene Zwozdesky (Edmonton-Mill Creek) - Minister of Education
Greg Melchin (Calgary-North West) - Minister of Energy
Gary Mar (Calgary-Mackay) - Minister of Community Development
Lyle Oberg (Strathmore-Brooks) - Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
Mike Cardinal (Athabasca-Redwater) - Minister of Human Resources and Employment, and Minister responsible for Personnel Administration Office
Guy Boutilier (Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo) - Minister of Environment
Heather Forsyth (Calgary-Fish Creek) - Minister of Children's Services
Victor Doerksen (Red Deer-South) - Minister of Innovation and Science
David Coutts (Livingstone-Macleod) - Minister of Sustainable Resource Development
Pearl Calahasen (Lesser Slave Lake) - Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
Ty Lund (Rocky Mountain House) - Minister of Government Services
Clint Dunford (Lethbridge West) - Minister of Economic Development
Gordon Graydon (Grande Prairie-Wapiti) - Minister of Gaming
Rob Renner (Medicine Hat) - Minister of Municipal Affairs
Luke Ouellette (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake) - Minister of Restructuring and Government Efficiency
Harvey Cenaiko (Calgary-Buffalo) - Solicitor General
Yvonne Fritz (Calgary-Cross) - Minister of Seniors and Community Supports
Doug Horner (Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert) - Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
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Premier Klein will be available to media at Government House following the swearing-in ceremony.
Media enquiries may be directed to:
Marisa Etmanski
Office of the Premier, Phone: (780) 422-4897
Copyright(c); 2004 Government of Alberta