Calgary ministers sworn into new cabinet

Calgary's clout in Premier Ed Stelmach's inner circle hasgrown with the swearing-in of six cabinet ministers from the city.

The mix of rookie and veteran ministers took their oaths Thursday morning at Government House in Edmonton in front of Lt.-Gov. Norman Kwong.

Responding tocriticism that he has neglected Alberta's biggest city, Stelmach appointed Calgary MLAs to a few key cabinet posts:

• Rookie MLA and lawyer Alison Redford (Calgary-Elbow) becomes justice minister and attorney general.
• Ron Liepert (Calgary-West) moves from Education to Health.
• Ron Stevens (Calgary-Glenmore) stays on as deputy premier, but is moved to International and Intergovernmental Relations from Justice.
• First-time MLA Lindsay Blackett (Calgary-North West) takes on the newly created portfolio of Culture and Community Spirit.
• Former associate minister Yvonne Fritz (Calgary-Cross) is promoted to manage Housing and Urban affairs.
• Cindy Ady (Calgary-Shaw) oversees Tourism, Parks and Recreation.

Stelmach came under fire when he named just two ministers from Calgary to his first cabinetroster of18 ministersin December 2006.

This time, Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier said Stelmach's choices recognize the city's importance and that urban views need to be represented at the cabinet table.

"It really starts to reflect a much more urban Alberta agenda, and that's more and more of us, of course, living in urban areas, and I think that this cabinet and the appointment reflects that," said Bronconnier Wednesday.

The mayor added, though, that funding for policing and changes to the Municipal Government Act remain key issues for Calgary.

First-time Calgary MLAs Manmeet Bhullar (Calgary-Montrose) and David Xiao (Edmonton-McClung) were also assigned to the newly created roles of parliamentary assistants who will help support ministers on big projects.

Bhullar will work with the advanced education and technology minister, while Xao will gain ministry experience in Employment and Immigration.

But with 23 ministers, this cabinet has five more positions than the last, which concerns Heather Douglas, head of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

"The growth in the number of cabinet ministers altogether will certainly increase the bureaucracy," she said. "We are already the largest bureaucracy per capita in Canada."

New justice minister worked in human rights

Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Mount Royal College, said Redford, 43,is a big winner in cabinet.

"To be newly elected to justice minister, that's one of the most senior portfolios you can have and it shows the credibility that Stelmach has faith in her," he said.

Redford has worked as a human rights lawyer for Canada, the European Union and the Commonwealth, aswell as a staffer infor the Prime Minister's Office.