Harper’s new Cabinet: Better and Stronger

Lets go over some of the highlights shall we?

(1) Weak performers were demoted. Simple as that!

(2) Key portfolio’s being taken more seriously. This can be seen in the emphasis on the economy (expanding the size of the Cabinet from 31 to 38), and by moving experienced ministers into important files (see Jim Prentice in Environment)

(3) Women proved that there is no glass ceiling. With 11 of the 23 female MP’s getting Cabinet positions, I dare anyone to claim that there is a bias against women in this party.

(4) History was made a few times. Leona Aglukkaq becomes the first female MP from Nunavut to be appointed to the Federal Cabinet and Steven Fletcher becomes the first fully disabled Canadian to be elected to the House, and therefore the first fully disabled Canadian to be appointed to the Federal Cabinet.

The only criticism that is being laid against the new Cabinet is that of diversity. Jeffrey Simpson has a peice in the Globe and Mail today, poiting to the lack of diversity among the Cabinet as a major criticism.

The cabinet contains not a single multicultural Canadian, despite the impressive Conservative gains in some of those communities.

I always find criticisms such as this to be so superficial. It is based the microcosim model of representation where the House and Cabinet should resemble the makeup of the country (men, women, and ethnic minorities that look similar to the polulation of the entire country.) This model makes the flawed  assumption that if you look like me and talk like me that you will think like me and therefore be the best representative for me.