Constituents in the riding of Athabasca-Sturgeon-Redwater had reason to be intrigued when Premier Alison Redford unveiled her new cabinet last week.
Having recently re-elected Jeff Johnson as their MLA, voters might have expected him to return to his post as Minister of Infrastructure, but the premier had other ideas.
Instead, she named Johnson the new Minister of Education, arguably one of the more high profile spots in cabinet.
The appointment indicates that Johnson’s political star is on the rise, with Premier Redford giving him a sizable role to play in her majority government. Local voters showed their regard for Johnson when they re-elected him, and it seems their high opinion of his work is shared by the Premier.
Johnson’s ascension to this position will have the parallel effect of raising the profile of our riding. With our local MLA performing a vital role in the cabinet, he will be able to bring the concerns and the needs of his constituents to the attention of the most influential Assembly members.
