Harper’s 2008 cabinet

Last week, Stephen Harper announced his new cabinet. Here are my thoughts.

1. When Stephen Harper took power in 2006, he reduced the cabinet from the Liberal’s 37 ministers to 26, the smallest in recent years. All this in an effort “to promote accountable, efficient and effective government?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùmore focus and purpose; less process and cost”.

2. His new cabinet is back up to 37. Does this mean there is now less focus and purpose?

3. The new cabinet will cost nearly $4 million more than the previous cabinet?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùa 19% increase from prior to the election and a two-fifths increase since Harper’s first cabinet.

4. The new cabinet has the first ever Inuk minister.

5. Harper added three women ministers. Up from 21% in 2006 to roughly 27% today.

8 thoughts on “Harper’s 2008 cabinet

  1. Kim,

    It is government, they all say at first they are lean and mean and then bureaucratic bloat takes over.

    I really like this cabinet to be honest, I always find it funny that the media talk about Liberal bench strength compared to the Harper Cabinet which features many experienced players.

    I mean Baird, Clement and Flaherty all were ministers in the Ontario Tory Cabinet, or Day and Peter McKay who both have strong public service backgrounds (regardless of what you think of them).

    Should be an interesting few years.

  2. We have boring politics compared to American politics, lol.

  3. How is it that you don’t have any comments on the coalition? I figured you would be all over this.

  4. I’ve been so busy debating it on Facebook. Not sure why the other permabloggers on here haven’t brought it up though.

  5. Where on facebook I would love to read it. I may even have to add my ten cents surprise, surprise, hey.

  6. All over. Check out my notes and posted items. The discussion is in there somewhere. Of course, I’ve been commenting on other’s items as well.

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