Premier Ed Stelmach is trying to right his listing Tory ship of state with a sweeping overhaul of his cabinet. But with the exceptions of a couple of new faces and the demotion of his most egregiously inept ministers, it mostly appears to be business as usual.
The appointment of longtime Edmonton lightweight Gene Zwozdesky to the health portfolio is Stelmach’s attempt to put a happy smiling face on a ministry that has been buffeted by surly Ron Liepert, who has probably done more to drive down Stelmach’s popularity than anything Stelmach himself has done. Based on his track record, Liepert shouldn’t even be in cabinet, but he’ll likely be comfortable in the energy portfolio. He replaces the inept Mel Knight, who inexplicably gets to remain in cabinet as sustainable resource development minister.
The appointment of the most conservative of Conservatives, Ted Morton, to the finance portfolio indicates Stelmach’s willingness to fight the Wildrose Alliance on their top issue, the Tory’s out-of-control spending. It will be interesting to see if this makes a difference to Wildrose supporting former Tories in the next polls. Iris Evans, the former finance minister, has been demoted to the essentially useless and non-controversial international and intergovernmental affairs portfolio. That’s a huge comedown for Evans, who some have pegged as Alberta’s next lieutenant-governor.
Calgary’s competent and hard-working Yvonne Fritz moves from housing to children and youth services, mercifully replacing Janis Tarchuk, who stumbled from one mini-scandal to the next.
Also on the positive side is Frank Oberle’s appointment as solicitor general, replacing sad sack Fred Lindsay, who owed his position in cabinet to being a Friend of Stelmach. Blustery Ray Danyluk takes over infrastructure from Jack Hayden.
Edmonton MLA Thomas Lukaszuk, who appeared to be nailed to the backbenches — and with good cause — makes cabinet as minister of employment and immigration.
With the exceptions of Lukaszuk and Calgary backbench rookie Jonathan Denis, who takes over housing, Stelmach’s cabinet remains old and stodgy.
This is hardly the cabinet that will turn around Alberta  or Tory fortunes.