07 Jul The 12-member cabinet is too small – feedback

Posted at 14:19h in Uncategorized by

Three contrarian readers respond on the right size for cabinet:

Give some thought to those 11 very busy politicians, and how easy it will be to control them. Dexter and Dan O’Connor will have complete control of the first-year agenda. The really big issues, NSP for example, will come from the department to the Issues Committee of Cabinet chaired by the Deputy Premier. — XX

I want civil servants to run the government, that’s what they’re paid for. I don’t want politicians trying to run their departments. That’s not their role, nor are they necessarily competent to do so. I do want cabinet ministers to determine how to best allocate our very scarce resources. I want them to decide on and to communicate the government’s policy to those civil servants and provide guidance in the execution of that policy – the way generals guide an army.

I want our politicians to worry about the politics involved in their decisions. I do not want our civil service worrying about the politics involved in their decisions.

Is governance as cut and dried as this? Of course not, but we have had more that enough political interference, corruption, cronyism, and incompetence in the management of this province’s resources. A professional civil service would be a godsend. (And much of our civil service is very professional.)  – TS

One of the great problems this new government is likely to face, given their recent record in opposition, is over-cautiousness.   In your discussion on the small cabinet however, I wouldn’t have set Howard Epstein aside so easily, even given the reason stated.  He is still likely one of the most knowledgeable members of caucus in a variety of areas, and also one of the most experienced in running an organization, having held several executive director positions for significant organizations.  I have reason to know he is a very competent manager. This new government desperately needs experienced people, and as you correctly point out, they have passed over some other very good people as well.  — CW