Klein urged to abolish Aboriginal Affairs, Solicitor General, Revenue, other ministries

EDMONTON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today called on Premier Klein to reduce the size of cabinet back to 17 - the size of his first cabinet in 1992, which consisted of the following ministries:

Premier
Minister of Federal and Intergovernmental Affairs
Minister of Public Works, Supplies and Services
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
Provincial Treasurer
Minister of Economic Development and Tourism
Minister of Health
Minister of Transportation and Utilities
Minister of Energy
Minister of Justice
Minister of Municipal Affairs
Minister of Family and Social Services
Minister of Education
Minister of Environmental Protection
Minister of Advanced Education and Career Development
Minister of Labour
Minister of Community Development

This small cabinet reduced the size of Alberta's government by 30%. But starting in 1994, Premier Klein gradually increased the size of cabinet up to 24. From 2001 to 2004, this 24-person cabinet increased spending on government programs by 31%, from $18 billion in 2000 to $23.6 billion in 2004. Portfolios in the 24-person cabinet which did not exist in Klein's 1992 cabinet include:

Aboriginal Affairs
Children's Services
Gaming
Infrastructure
Innovation and Science
Revenue
Seniors
Solicitor General
Sustainable Resource Development

"A big cabinet leads to big government," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"It's no coincidence that, in the early 1990s, a 17-person cabinet reduced the size of government by 30%, while a 24-person cabinet increased spending on government programs by over 30% in just four years. It's no coincidence that Premier Klein raised provincial taxes in 2002, after increasing the size of cabinet to 24."