First of all, let’s put aside the fact that he appointed David Emerson to Cabinet.
Secondly, let’s put aside the fact that Harper will appoint a Senator, and put him into Cabinet.
So what about the Cabinet itself?
1. I’m disappointed that James Moore got overlooked in BC. Moore is, without a doubt, a rising star in the Conservative Party and it’s shameful that he got passed over for people like Emerson and Gary Lunn (and Stockwell, but…whatever…he had to be in).
2. Speaking of which, Public Safety sounds like a good choice for Stock. High Profile, but he’s unlikely to say anything too embarrassing there.
3. While my Cabinet predictions were a bit off, I did manage the nail the four Albertans in Cabinet, including the Ablonczy snub. I actually like having Monte Solberg in immigration – after watching the conflict of interest that was Joe Volpe, having an Immigration Minister from Medicine Hat, with no leadership ambitions, is a very good thing imho.
An Albertan (Ambrose) Environment Minister is also interesting…especially with Harper promising to ditch Kyoto.
I was glad to see Jim Prentice become the second Calgarian in Cabinet, ahead of Ablonczy or Kenney. As for Kenney getting passed over – I guess he’s saving himself for a majority.
4. Vic Toews stays in Justice? Ugg. This was probably Harper’s biggest mistake and the one which will cause him the most grief in the long run.
5. Unlike some, I don’t have a problem with Flaherty in Finance. The Tories have under two months to dish out a budget so getting someone with budget experience is a good thing. This government has a lifespan of two budgets, maybe three at most, so a learning curve just isn’t an option. Ditto for Clement and Baird.
6. Peter over Stock in Foreign Affairs is a good call. I would have put MacKay in Justice but Harper didn’t have a lot of good candidates for Foreign Affairs. Also, it’s a good spot to put a moderate with leadership ambitions (keeps him out of the country, but it’s still prestigious).
7. I like having a smaller Cabinet. It had grown pretty bloated in recent years.
8. Loyola Hearn in Fisheries? GASP! What a shocker!