Central Alberta’s lone cabinet minister will have his work cut out for him at the provincial table.
Cal Dallas, Progressive Conservative MLA for Red Deer South, was the only Central Alberta MLA to make the cut in Premier Alison Redford’s 19-person cabinet, announced on Tuesday.
Dallas retains his newly streamlined International and Intergovernmental Relations portfolio. Dallas was tapped for his first cabinet post when aboriginal relations were under the portfolio in mid-October. His role will include looking for new opportunities to attract investment capital, enhance labour mobility and reduce barriers to the province’s trading partners.
“I felt very positive about the experience that we had in the last six months leading up to the election,” said Dallas. “Clearly we have a good team here. We made progress on a number of important issues. We worked very hard and it’s encouraging the premier saw the merit in that.”
Dallas said regional issues will not be lost at the provincial table because there a number of strong MLAs at the cabinet table, including Diana McQueen, MLA for Drayton Valley-Devon, and Verlyn Olson, MLA for Wetaskiwin-Camrose.
Dallas said Redford has placed a strong emphasis on the role of caucus and the importance of every caucus member bringing a perspective from their constituency to the table. Dallas was hopeful there would be a seat for himself and Red Deer North MLA Mary Anne Jablonski, who was once again shut out of Redford’s hand-picked executive.
“Mary Anne and I have approached every issue with the respect to Red Deer and Central Alberta together,” said Dallas. “We will continue to do that. We have a great working relationship.”
Jablonski was Seniors and Community Supports minister in Ed Stelmach’s last cabinet. Jablonski backed Gary Mar in last year’s Tory leadership race.
She has decided to run for Speaker of the House, the presiding officer in the Alberta legislature. The former Speaker, Ken Kowalski, retired just before the April election.
Alberta’s Speaker of the house will be elected by MLAs in a secret ballot on May 23. Dallas said there is no secret he will throw his support behind Jablonski.
“When I announced I was running for Speaker of the house, I knew that I would not be looked at for a cabinet minister,” said Jablonski. “I am not entirely surprised. . . . It just something you get over. I am really pleased with people who have been selected.”
Jablonski said she was disappointed but not surprised she was left out of the cabinet.
“I think (having only one Central Alberta cabinet minister) will be more work for Minister Dallas for sure to help bring those issues to the table,” said Jablonski.
“But that’s the work of the MLA as well. When an MLA is representing their constituency, there are issues that need to be addressed, it is their job to go to the ministers and make sure the ministers know and understand what those issues are. There will be less influence at the table but at the same time good MLAs will present the issues and they will be dealt with as needed.”
Both Dallas and Jablonski gave their stamps of approval on the government department restructuring.
Dallas said separating Aboriginal Relations from International and Intergovernmental Relations reflects the importance the premier puts in the work they are trying to do in terms of policy and trade development across the country.
“Equally significant is the fact that she’s also in these changes recognizing the significance and value and importance of our aboriginal community and role that they are going play in the future of Alberta,” said Dallas.
Jablonski said she is pleased with the new government structure, which adds seven associate ministers, including for Seniors, Services for Persons with Disabilities, Finance, International and Intergovernmental Relations, Municipal Affairs, Wellness and Accountability, Transparency and Transformation. Among the changes, seniors issues will move to the Department of Health.
“Seniors issues have always been under health care,” said Jablonski. “Because it seems the health issues are the biggest priority for our seniors and people who are aging. I think it’s a good match. . . . It’s a natural evolution and I think it will work well.”
In Redford’s first cabinet, former Drumheller-Stettler MLA Jack Hayden had the Tourism, Parks and Recreation portfolio. Hayden lost his seat in the legislature to Wildrose rookie Rick Strankman in last month’s provincial election.
Former Innisfail-Sylvan Lake MLA Luke Ouellette was a cabinet minister in the Stelmach government. Ouellette lost his seat to Wildrose rookie Kerry Towle on April 23.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com