Kenney's cabinet shuffle: Senior ministers remain in place as new positions added
Alberta Premier Jason Kenney shuffled his cabinet Thursday, naming new ministers for transportation and culture but keeping major portfolios unaffected.
"There needs to be renewal every now and then in a government," Kenney said.
Leela Aheer, who had served as the minister of culture, multiculturalism and the status of women, now finds herself outside of cabinet after Thursday's announcement.
Aheer called on Kenney to apologize following images of him and other ministers dining on a rooftop patio in apparent violation of COVID-19 protocols at the time.
Her former ministry has now been broken up and distributed to other departments.
Minister Leela Aheer announced the Faith-based and Cultural Facility Relaunch Grant on Nov. 9. Eligible organizations may apply for up to $5,000 in funding.
Kenney rejected assertions that her demotion was a result of that criticism.
"It's not about that or any particular incident," he said. "There's a lot of different factors that go into putting together the best collection of ministers."
But some experts disagree.
"Leela Aheer is in the penalty box," political scientist Chaldeans Mensah said. "When you breach cabinet solidarity, you have to pay a price, and I think the shuffle is evidence of that."
Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Ron Orr was named the minister of culture.
Whitney Issik joins cabinet as minister for status of women, and current parliamentary secretary Muhammad Yaseen will take on the multiculturalism portfolio.
"What he's done here is he has rewarded loyalty," Mensah told CTV News.
Southern Alberta MLA Grant Hunter is also now out of cabinet, after being replaced as associate minister of red tape reduction by Tanya Fir, another Calgary MLA.
Fir was demoted from cabinet in the fall and was among the group of UCP staff and MLAs who drew public scorn last December by flying abroad in contravention of their own government's health recommendations.
Ric McIver, who had been serving two roles since January when he took over municipal affairs following Tracy Allard's resignation, will keep that file.
The other ministry he had been leading, transportation, will be taken over by Rajan Sawhney, former minister of community and social services.
Alberta MInister of Community and Social Services Rajan Sawhney said on social media that her daughter was the victim of a hate-motivated attack Friday in downtown Calgary
Calgary-Foothills MLA Jason Luan will take over Sawhney's old portfolio as a full minister after serving as associate minister of mental health and addictions.
In his place, Kenney assigned Mike Ellis, MLA for Calgary-West.
High-profile cabinet members including Health Minister Tyler Shandro, Environment Minister Jason Nixon, Education Minister Adriana La Grange, and Finance Minister Travis Toews all remained in their roles.
Alberta Labour and Immigration Minister Tyler Shandro announced $1.53 million in funding for workplace initiatives to create economic opportunities for marginalized workers (File photo.)
OPPOSITION REACTION
The move comes as Kenney and his government both struggle with low poll numbers.
Former government MLAs Todd Loewen, who now sits as an independent, took aim at the premier increasing the size of cabinet from 22 to 26 ministers and associate ministers.
"Today he increased the size of government while forcing a chosen few to pay a political price for his own failures."
Loewen accused Kenney of "putting his own short-term political interests first."
"This shuffle has nothing to do with strengthening our province or helping Albertans. It was a crass attempt to buy the loyalty of disheartened and frustrated MLAs."
Calling the shuffle a "missed opportunity," Opposition Leader Rachel Notley said the shuffle does more to address the premier's internal party problems than make needed changes.
"The real problem with this government remains at the very top," she said. "He's oblivious to the real problems of Alberta families and small businesses."
NEW ASSOCIATE MINISTERS
Several new associate minister roles were also designated.
Nate Horner, MLA for Drumheller-Stettler, was to be sworn in as associate minister of rural economic development under the jobs and economy ministry.
Calgary-North MLA Yaseen will work under the labour and immigration ministry's Jason Copping as the associate minister of immigration and multiculturalism.
Pam Livingston, who signed on as Kenney's deputy chief of staff in February, was promoted to chief of staff.
PREPARING FOR THE POLLS?
More than halfway through his term, Thursday's shuffle may show Kenney is looking ahead to a 2023 election.
Six of the eight promotions went to Calgary MLAs, a city that's billed as the likely voting battleground for the legislature.
Mensah believes by upping their profiles, Kenney can give some of his inner circle an election boost.
"This cabinet shuffle is a bit of a reset for the party," he said. "So they need to come together as a team because the time before the next election will not allow for any more internal division."
With files from CTV News Edmonton
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Boeing's financial woes continue, while families of crash victims urge U.S. to prosecute the company
Boeing said Wednesday that it lost US$355 million on falling revenue in the first quarter, another sign of the crisis gripping the aircraft manufacturer as it faces increasing scrutiny over the safety of its planes and accusations of shoddy work from a growing number of whistleblowers.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Fair in Ontario, flurries in Labrador: Weather systems make for an erratic spring
It's no secret that spring can be a tumultuous time for Canadian weather, and as an unseasonably mild El Nino winter gives way to summer, there's bound to be a few swings in temperature that seem out of the ordinary. From Ontario to the Atlantic, though, this week is about to feel a little erratic.