West Yellowhead MLA Robin Campbell is Alberta’s new finance minister.
Premier Jim Prentice, who recently won the PC leadership vote, promoted Campbell Sept. 15 when he announced his new cabinet. Campbell replaces Doug Horner, who will serve as the premier’s senior advisor in Ottawa.
“It’s a nice accolade,” said Campbell of his appointment. “I’m happy [the premier] has the confidence in me to do the job.”
Campbell, who was elected to the legislative assembly in 2008, was formerly the Minister of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, as well as government house leader—two positions he took on last December under former premier Alison Redford. Before that he was Minister of Aboriginal Relations, as well as deputy house leader.
Campbell said although he’s enjoyed all of his ministries, he’s looking forward to his new role.
“It’s a new challenge: looking after the coffers of the provincial government will be interesting.
“We’re a $47 billion corporation, when you look at it, so it’s a lot of money, a lot of decisions to be made.”
Campbell was scheduled to meet with Deputy Finance Minister Ray Gilmour on Tuesday to discuss “outstanding issues” and to set a list of priorities for the future.
“I’m not one to sit on things, so we’ll be moving quickly,” he said, noting that the budget is due out in the spring and his intention is to start working on it right away. “That would be priority No. 1.”
Campbell is one of 16 ministers appointed to the premier’s new cabinet, which controversially features two unelected members: former Edmonton mayor Stephen Mandel and former Saskatchewan cabinet minister Gordon Dirks.
Prentice, who is also unseated, appointed Mandel as minister of health and Dirks as minister of education.
“It’s not real common,” said Campbell, “but the premier wanted to send a strong message to Albertans that this is a new government and he asked two Albertans that he knows, trusts and respects to step up to the plate and they agreed with it.”
Campbell expects that Mandel and Dirks will run in byelections at the same time as the premier, and said that will be the public’s opportunity to decide “whether or not [Prentice] made the right choice.”
Nicole Veerman
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