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Dennis Theobald
Ten days after the provincial general election that returned Premier Ed Stelmach’s government to power with an increased majority, the premier appointed a new cabinet, with Dave Hancock taking on the education portfolio.
Newcomer Janice Sarich was appointed to the new junior post of parliamentary assistant for education, and former Education Minister Ron Liepert is taking on the health and wellness portfolio previously held by Hancock.
Dave Hancock being sworn in as minister of education while Premier Ed Stelmach looks on.—Government of Alberta
Hancock was born in Fort Resolution, NWT, and grew up in Fort Vermillion before moving to Edmonton. He was first elected to the legislative assembly in 1997, representing the constituency of Edmonton-Whitemud. He served in the Klein government as minister of advanced education, minister of justice and attorney general, and minister of intergovernmental and aboriginal affairs. Under Stelmach’s premiership, Hancock was appointed minister of health and wellness. Hancock has also served as the government house leader in the legislature.
A lawyer by profession, Hancock has close ties with teachers—his wife, Janet, is a principal with Edmonton Public Schools. During Hancock’s unsuccessful bid for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta, he paid particular attention to education issues and actively courted support from the province’s teachers. When it was apparent that he would not succeed Klein, Hancock shifted his support and the votes of many of his supporters to Stelmach, contributing to Stelmach’s eventual election to the leadership of the PC party and premiership of the province.
While some media commentators have suggested that Hancock’s move to education from the contentious health and wellness portfolio amounts to a demotion, a more careful consideration of Hancock’s personality, role in government and relationship with Stelmach suggests otherwise. Widely regarded as one of the most capable and progressive ministers, Hancock has always promoted a strategic vision for Alberta. When Klein said his government did not have a plan to manage growth and development in Alberta, he was apparently unaware that Hancock did, and was sharing it with anyone who would listen.
Hancock’s strategic vision, early support for Stelmach, and loyalty to the party and its new premier make him a valuable asset, and he can be expected to exercise influence in the government extending well beyond the education portfolio. It has already been announced that Hancock will continue to act as government house leader, responsible for coordinating the flow of business through the legislative assembly, as well as serving on two critical government committees; the Agenda and Priorities Committee and the Treasury Board. Teachers will be pleased that the minister responsible for education will enjoy such influence over the entire scope of government activities.
Janice Sarich is a rookie MLA who also has deep roots in public education, having served as a trustee on the Edmonton Catholic Separate School Board. Sarich, too, is regarded as progressive in her outlook and orientation. She has worked with Public Interest Alberta, where she focussed her attention on the goal of improving the quality of democracy in the province. Because the position of parliamentary assistant is new to Alberta, her role and responsibilities remain to be clarified. Generally, though, the purpose of parliamentary assistant, and other similar posts known in other jurisdictions by other names, is to groom prospective cabinet ministers, providing them with exposure to department operations and a higher profile in the legislative assembly.
Rounding out the announcements of special relevance to public education is the appointment of Art Johnston, MLA for Calgary-Hays, to the chairmanship of the Cabinet Policy Committee on Community Services, which oversees education as well as the ministries of culture and community, housing and urban affairs, municipal affairs and tourism, parks and recreation.
Finally, in a move that will be welcomed within both the ministry of education and the Alberta Teachers’ Association, Keray Henke has been reappointed to his position as deputy minister of education. Recently, Henke worked extensively with ATA officials to implement the November 15, 2007, agreement between the government and Association concerning the unfunded liability of the Alberta teachers’ pension fund. His hard work and personal integrity impressed ATA staff and bode well for the future.
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