Newly elected Premier Jim Prentice named his cabinet earlier this week.

“As of this moment, Alberta is under new management. This is a new government with new leadership, new voices and a new way of doing things. Today and in the days and weeks to come we will take strong and decisive action to bring real and tangible change to the way in which Alberta is governed,” said Prentice.

The new cabinet has 16 ministers and three associate ministers, in addition to the premier. This is down from the 19 ministers and 10 associate ministers that were sworn-in last December.

Red Deer South MLA Cal Dallas has been named legislative secretary, intergovernmental relations and will report directly to Prentice. Dallas will also remain on the treasury board.

Dallas was the former international and intergovernmental relations minister. Prentice has now taken over that portfolio.

Looking ahead, Prentice said his government’s goal is to assemble a cabinet team with strong new voices to move Alberta forward, introduce tough new rules to put an end to entitlements and repair the bond of trust between the people and those who represent them. This will include the introduction of the Accountability Act in the fall session.

He said he will also bring new leadership and significant reform to the civil service, bring a new approach to how the government operates within Canada and around the globe and bring a new focus to the priorities of Albertans, especially as it relates to key public services.

The premier and members of cabinet who are not sitting MLAs will seek seats in by-elections. These include Stephen Mandel who was appointed as the health minister and Gordon Dirks who was named the new education minister.

Ric McIver, who ran for the premier’s seat was named minister of jobs, skills, training and labour.

The fall session will begin with a Speech from the Throne after the legislature is prorogued, and the premier will introduce his property rights legislation as Bill 1, followed by the Accountability Act.

-Fawcett