Perfect opportunity for smaller cabinet lost
EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) responded today to the announcement of a provincial government cabinet shuffle.
"This would have been the perfect opportunity for Premier Klein to re-commit to a smaller, more streamlined cabinet without having to fire any ministers, but instead he opted to increase an already bloated cabinet," said CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.
"Just as concerning is the possibility of another shuffle after June 1st, the date the Premier set for cabinet ministers to declare their intention to run for leadership," continued Hennig.
The CTF notes the Premier made a strong commitment to smaller government in 1992 when he reduced the size of cabinet from Don Getty's 27 down to 17. Since then the cabinet has continued to grow now up to 25 members.
"This government demonstrated restraint in 1992 by reducing the budget and reducing the size of cabinet. Now this government is demonstrating a lack of restraint, both in the most recent budget and in today's increase to the size of cabinet," concluded Hennig.
Potential options for reducing the size of cabinet included:
"This would have been the perfect opportunity for Premier Klein to re-commit to a smaller, more streamlined cabinet without having to fire any ministers, but instead he opted to increase an already bloated cabinet," said CTF-Alberta director Scott Hennig.
"Just as concerning is the possibility of another shuffle after June 1st, the date the Premier set for cabinet ministers to declare their intention to run for leadership," continued Hennig.
The CTF notes the Premier made a strong commitment to smaller government in 1992 when he reduced the size of cabinet from Don Getty's 27 down to 17. Since then the cabinet has continued to grow now up to 25 members.
"This government demonstrated restraint in 1992 by reducing the budget and reducing the size of cabinet. Now this government is demonstrating a lack of restraint, both in the most recent budget and in today's increase to the size of cabinet," concluded Hennig.
Potential options for reducing the size of cabinet included:
- Rolling International and Intergovernmental Relations into Executive Council;
- Merging Government Services with Restructuring and Government Efficiency;
- Re-combining Education and Advanced Education to re-form the Ministry of Learning;
- or combining Sustainable Resource Development with Environment.