New Year, new wishes

I’m sure near the top of a wish list for many truckers would be a spot for improved roads and more places to safely pull over along the highway.
In the world of Alberta politics these wishes fall under infrastructure and transportation. Although an expanded highway network is one point of priority on a lengthy to-do list from the province’s new premier, the department in charge of the highway network landed in the bottom half of a list which ranked the importance of the ministries under the new leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservative Party.
Shortly after Ed Stelmach was sworn in as the province’s 13th premier he unveiled a new provincial cabinet team and trimmed the list of ministers down from 23 to 18. Amidst the unveiling of new appointments and shuffled portfolios, the new government of integrity and transparency listed the ministries in order of precedence.
Premier Ed Stelmach occupies the number one spot; it is his government after all. The 18 ministers that make up the cabinet are then listed in order of precedence, which places the Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation at spot number 13. Right behind the Minister of Finance and one spot ahead of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Deputy Government House Leader.
Listing ministries in order of precedence may be a transparent way to show where the priorities of the government sit, but it’s slightly similar to making a list of your children based on who you like the best. Each has its own special qualities and requires different attention, but parents don’t actually have favourites right?
In a province as economically affluent as Alberta it may not be that big of a deal. There may be plenty of money to go around and each ministry – regardless of precedence – will get a fair share of the proverbial pie. But when push comes to shove, you can’t feel that good about being at the bottom of the list because it’s a long and bumpy road to the top, or wherever it is the next haul takes you.