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Former education minister Lukaszuk named deputy premier
Jeff Johnson has been appointed Alberta’s minister of education. Premier Alison Redford made the announcement May 8 when she unveiled her new cabinet.
“This new cabinet structure allows us to focus on the things that matter most to Albertans—a strong fiscal framework, caring for our most vulnerable citizens, promoting our resources and solid consultation processes that ensure Albertans are heard,” she said.
First elected in 2008 to represent the constituency of Athabasca–Redwater (now Athabasca–Sturgeon–Redwater), Johnson is the only MLA to be named to each of Treasury Board, the Agenda and Priorities Committee, and the Operations Policy Committee. He previously served as minister of infrastructure and as parliamentary assistant to the president of Treasury Board (Oil Sands Sustainable Development Secretariat). Most notably, he co-chaired the Inspiring Education Steering Committee, which developed a long-term vision for the province’s education system.
Prior to his election, Johnson worked as a futures trading floor pit boss and built a series of successful small businesses. As owner and president of the largest rural Xerox sales agency in western Canada, he was three times named the Xerox Canada Agent of the Year and was selected to be one of six members appointed to the National Agent Council. He holds a BA in psychology from Camrose Lutheran College (now Augustana Campus of the University of Alberta).
Former minister of education Thomas Lukaszuk has been named deputy premier responsible for the Operations Committee.
“Thomas Lukaszuk will give a unique energy to the role of deputy premier and will help successfully drive the political agenda for this new government,” Redford said.
On May 9, Redford appointed Tim Wiles, former deputy minister of finance, as deputy minister of education. He succeeded Keray Henke, who had served in that role since 2005.
The position of parliamentary assistant, including parliamentary assistant to the minister of education, has been eliminated. In its stead, Redford has resurrected the position of associate minister, first introduced by former premier Don Getty. The seven associate ministers, who do not include an associate minister of education, will attend cabinet meetings when their portfolios are being discussed.
Redford has also dispensed with cabinet policy committees, established to make recommendations to cabinet on policy and other issues. Henceforth, policy will be addressed by cabinet and government caucus before being taken to the floor of the legislative assembly.
The all-party policy field committees, now known as legislative policy committees, remain intact. Their role is to review and conduct public hearings on bills and regulations and to inquire into other matters within their purview. Education lies within the purview of the Standing Committee on Families and Communities.
