Edmonton's cabinet representation fair: ministers

Edmonton is getting its fair share of cabinet representation, despite the fact that Calgary has twice as many people at the cabinet table, two of the newly appointed ministers insisted Thursday.

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach's 23-member cabinet was sworn in Thursday morning with a mix of political veterans and newcomers as well as more women to sit on the government's front benches.

Of those ministers, six are from Calgary and three are from Edmonton.

It's one more seat at the cabinet table thanEdmonton had before the election.

Some political observers predicted Edmonton would get more after electing 13 Conservatives from the city's 18 seats, breaking with the long tradition of choosing mostly opposition MLAs.

"It's not a numbers game," said Dave Hancock, the newly appointed education minister, one of the city's three cabinet appointments.

If Edmonton and the surrounding communities that make up the capital region are considered, the representation is more balanced, he added.

Mayor not worried

"The premier is from the capital region, the minister of finance is from the capital region, the minister of advanced education and technology, something very, very, important is from the capital region," Hancock said.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Gene Zwozdesky agreed.

"The capital region is how Edmonton is marketed to the world," Zwozdesky said.

"We have to take a look at what theimpact is on the broader region."

Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel is not worried about the numbers. He is confident the city's Tory MLAs will have a lot of influence on government decisions.

"We have 13 MLAs to direct the vision of Edmonton and we expect them to listen to city council and, hopefully, they will bring forward our positions as well as the individuals we have in cabinet right now," Mandel said.

In addition toHancock (Edmonton-Whitemud) andZwozdesky (Edmonton-Mill Creek), Edmonton's cabinet representation includes Service Alberta Minister Heather Klimchuk (Edmonton-Glenora).

Three other cabinet ministers come from communities surrounding Edmonton:

• Finance Minister Iris Evans (Sherwood Park).
• Solicitor General Fred Lindsay (Stony Plain).
• Advanced Education Minister Doug Horner (Spruce Grove-Sturgeon-St. Albert).

Stelmach is also from a riding that abuts Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville.