Stelmach Announces His Cabinet

Alberta's new premier has announced his cabinet appointments:

* Lloyd Snelgrove (Vermilion-Lloydminster)President of the Treasury Board, Minister of Service Alberta, (Minister Responsible for Personnel Administration Office)
* Doug Horner (Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert)Minister of Advanced Education and Technology
* Iris Evans (Sherwood Park) Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry
* Mel Knight (Grande Prairie-Smoky) Minister of Energy
* Dave Hancock (Edmonton-Whitemud) Minister of Health and Wellness, Government House Leader
* Ray Danyluk (Lac La Biche-St. Paul) Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
* Ron Liepert (Calgary-West)Minister of Education
* Janis Tarchuk (Banff-Cochrane)Minister of Children's Services
* Rob Renner (Medicine Hat)Minister of Environment, Deputy Government House Leader
* George Groeneveld (Highwood) Minister of Agriculture and Food
* Lyle Oberg (Strathmore-Brooks)Minister of Finance
* Luke Ouellette (Innisfail-Sylvan Lake)Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation
* Ron Stevens (Calgary-Glenmore ) Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Deputy Government House Leader
* Greg Melchin (Calgary-North West)Minister of Seniors and Community Supports
* Guy Boutilier (Fort McMurray-Wood Buffalo) Minister of International, Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Relations
* Ted Morton (Foothills-Rocky View)Minister of Sustainable Resource Development
* Fred Lindsay (Stony Plain) Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security
* Hector Goudreau (Dunvegan-Central Peace)Minister of Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture

I suppose that since a monkey with a calculator could run Alberta's finance department without screwing up, the appointment of Lyle Oberg shouldn't be a big concern but I still wonder what he has on other members of the PC party since he's been so fond of holding the 'I know the skeletons in the closet' card. I have no use for Oberg and would have been happy to see him relegated to the back benches (or beyond).

Additionally, I suppose putting "Firewall" Morton in sustainable resources saves those of us who are concerned about his regressive social conservative ideology from having to worry about whose lives he might have had the power to interfere in had he been given a different post. I can certainly see him causing problems with Ottawa though over environmental issues.

Footnotes:

Groeneveld is a big name in southern Alberta when it comes to agricultural issues, so that's a good fit.

Boutelier? It should be fun to watch him stumble his way through dealing with international relations. (He's annoying).

Evans should have been turfed. She's been absolutely useless in her previous portfolios. I don't know why they keep her around.

Hancock in Health & Wellness should be interesting - somewhat - but it will basically be a stay the course agenda so we can't expect much improvement to our health care services anytime soon.

Overall, it's just a snoozer of a cabinet that's unlikely to cause any big waves (except when Oberg screws up somehow when his big mouth gets him into trouble again or when Morton barks at Ottawa). Zzzzzzz...