安大略省自由党政府内阁6月13日大换血后,成为安省史上第二大内阁。现在56名自由党议员中有30人有内阁厅长头衔,超过半数。上周因为中国人权辩护引起争议的华裔内阁成员陈国治原来是移民公民和国际贸易厅长,现在改为专管国际贸易。移民公民厅长由内阁新人阿尔巴内塞(Laura Albanes)担任。
尽管一些加拿大中文媒体的报道有“陈国治被解职”的说法。但是在英法语媒体,移民公民厅长易人甚至没有被看作是他被降职。在厅长们登场下场的纷乱中,陈国治的职位变动没有引起太大的注意。安省内阁原来有27人,在4人辞职,7人加入后,现在有30人,仅次于1985年由进步保守党省长米勒任命的33人内阁。
记者Mike Crawley分析说,省长韦恩的内阁改组是在为2018年6月的省选做准备。7个内阁新人中有6人来自民意摇摆不定的选区。如果他们当上厅长,要比普通议员更容易重新当选。只有他们守住各自的阵地,安大略自由党才能继续在省议会占据多数席位。
内阁的形象也很重要。在这次内阁改组中辞职的4位厅长年龄在67岁到75岁之间。其中71岁的吉姆.布莱德利是“三朝元老”了,在三届自由党政府的内阁中先后效力18年。把他们换成年轻的后座议员,用韦恩的话来说,将使内阁在处理政务时有“新的目光和新的活力”。另一方面,这次改组使韦恩内阁的女性比例达到40%,是安大略省历届内阁中女性比例最高的。
1985年2月,进步保守党省长弗兰克.米勒任命了由33名成员组成的安省有史以来最大的内阁。三个月后,进步保守党在省选中落败,失去了占据42年之久的执政党地位。安大略省历史上出现过的另一个30人内阁也是由自由党省长组建的。他就是接替米勒的大卫.彼得森。但是他也在后来的省选中落败,连自己的议席都没有保住。
韦恩在新闻发布会上强调,扩大内阁、增设厅长是因为有些工作的完成需要集中精力,加强力量。现在,国际贸易、住房和基础建设被分出来成为三个独立的部门,部长因此增至30人。安大略省议员的年薪为$116,550,厅长的年薪为$165,861。
附:新内阁全体成员名单
•Kathleen Wynne: Premier and President of the Council Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.
•Deborah Matthews: Deputy Premier, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, Cabinet Minister Responsible for Digital Government.
•Michael Gravelle: Minister of Northern Development and Mines.
•Brad Duguid: Minister of Economic Development and Growth.
•Jeff Leal: Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
•David Orazietti: Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services.
•Liz Sandals: President of the Treasury Board.
•David Zimmer: Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
•Michael Chan: Minister of International Trade.
•Reza Moridi: Minister of Research, Innovation and Science.
•Yasir Naqvi: Attorney General, Government House Leader.
•Charles Sousa: Minister of Finance.
•Eric Hoskins: Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.
•Glen Murray: Minister of the Environment and Climate Change.
•Bob Chiarelli: Minister of Infrastructure.
•Michael Coteau: Minister of Children and Youth Services, Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism.
•Tracy MacCharles: Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues, Minister Responsible for Accessibility.
•Kevin Flynn: Minister of Labour.
•William Mauro: Minister of Municipal Affairs.
•Helena Jaczek: Minister of Community and Social Services.
•Dipika Damerla: Minister Responsible for Seniors Affairs.
•Steven Del Duca: Minister of Transportation.
•Mitzie Hunter: Minister of Education.
•Laura Albanese: Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
•Christopher Ballard: Minister of Housing Minister Responsible for the Poverty Reduction Strategy.
•Marie-France Lalonde: Minister of Government and Consumer Services, Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs.
•Kathryn McGarry: Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry.
•Eleanor McMahon: Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport.
•Indira Naidoo-Harris: Associate Minister of Finance (Ontario Retirement Pension Plan).
•Glenn Thibeault: Minister of Energy.(文/吴薇,来源:RCI)