Last week I did a dream PC caucus and Liberal caucus, this week let's look at those caucus and build a cabinet for each and caucuses around them:
PC Caucus:
Tom Rideout (Baie Verte)
Luke Woodrow (Bay Of Islands)
Calvin Peach (Bellevue)
Harry Harding (Bonavista North)
Jim Morgan (Bonavista South)
Harold Andrews (Burgeo Lapoile)
Glen Tobin (Burin Placentia West)
Tom Hickey (Cape St.Francis)
Haig Young (Carbonear Hr.Grace)
Bill Doody (Conception Bay East Bell Island)
Terry French (Conception Bay South)
Hugh Twomey (Exploits)
Loyola Sullivan (Ferryland)
Don Stewart (Fortune Bay Cape La Hune)
Harold Collins (Gander)
Alec Hickman (Grand Bank)
Len Simms (Grand Falls Windsor Buchans)
Brian Peckford (Grand Falls Windsor Green Bay South)
Norm Doyle (Harbour Main)
Lynn Verge (Humber East)
Wallace House (Humber Valley)
Danny Williams (Humber West)
Ed Byrne (Kilbride)
Joe Rousseau (Lab West)
Joe Goudie (Lake Melville)
Jim Russell (Lewisporte)
Gerry Ottenheimer (Mt.Pearl North)
Neil Windsor (Mt.Pearl South)
Loyola Hearn (Placentia and St.Mary's)
Jim Hodder (Port Au Port)
Randy Collins (Port De Grave)
Bill Marshall (Signal Hill Quidi Vidi)
Ed Maynard (St.Barbe)
Ron Dawe (St.George's Stephenville East)
Anthony Murphy (St.John's Centre)
John Ottenheimer (St.John's East)
John Carter (St.John's North)
John Collins (St.John's South)
John Crosbie (St.John's West)
Glenn Greening (Terra Nova)
Derrick Dalley (The Isles Of Notre Dame)
Trevor Taylor (The Straits White Bay North)
John Butt (Topsail)
Garfield Warren (Torngat Mountains)
Jim Reid (Trinity Bay De Verde)
Charlie Brett (Trinity North)
Jerome Dinn (Virginia Waters)
So here comes a cabinet based upon these members. A cabinet is picked based upon geography, gender and what these MHA's did during their political career:
Tom Rideout would get the Health portfolio, Rideout was a heavy hitter during his 25 years in provinicial politics including a time in the premier's chair, it makes sense that he would get a high portfolio such as health.
Jim Morgan would become deputy speaker of the House of Assembly. Morgan is still very outspoken on different issues affecting this province.
Tom Hickey would be speaker of the house. He was a MHA for 20 years (1966-1986) so he would know all the ins and outs of the House of Assembly.
Haig Young would get Fisheries. Young was a minister during the Peckford era and gets a post largely based on his ability and geography given the Conception Bay North area is filled here by Randy Collins and Jim Reid who while able probably won't make it into a dream cabinet. Also the fishery plays a key role in the area where Young is representing (Carbonear/Hr.Grace)
Bill Doody would get Intergovernmental Affairs. Being a former leadership contender and senators shows he would know the in and outs of government.
Loyola Sullivan would get Innovation. Though Sullivan was the only PC leader in the 90's to not be the leader in an election the guy still left his mark on the House of Assembly. He'd do quite well in innovation.
Harold Collins would get Government Services. The man many people say turned the tide in this province. Collins won a 1967 by-election for the PC party and proved to be a key cog of the Moores and Peckford governments.
Alec Hickman would get justice. He held it under both Smallwood and Moores and it makes sense he would hold it here under Premier Williams in this dream PC caucus.
Len Simms would get Forestry: Simms held this portfolio under Brian Peckford and hails from Grand Falls which had a good part of its future based upon the forestry.
Brian Peckford would get Mines and Energy: Peckford based a lot of his government on the provinces infancy within the energy sector. I can see Williams and Peckford being a great 1 2 punch in getting the best possible resource deals for this province.
Lynn Verge would get Child, Youth and Family Services. This portfolio did not exist during Verge's time in office but I know she would have handled this ably as she did everything else during a stellar 17 year political career.
Danny Williams would get the premier's job. Is there any other choice, really? Of all 10 premiers in the province's history, Williams was by far the best premier this province has ever seen. You want to represent a best of the best group with the best and that was Williams.
Joe Rousseau would get Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. Rousseau was probably the best MHA the PC's have ever had from the Labrador portion of the province, so it makes sense he gets this post.
Gerry Ottenheimer would get Education: Ottenheimer held this portfolio for 3 years under Premier Moores and did a good job during that time.
Neil Windsor would get Municipal Affairs: A MHA for over 2 decades, Windsor's background was working with the city of Mount Pearl, it makes sense to give this 6 term MHA and former leadership candidate this spot in cabinet.
Bill Marshall would become minister without portfolio. Though this portfolio hasn't existed in years, Marshall held it when it was around so he gets the spot in this cabinet.
Ed Maynard would get Business. Though Business didn't exist during Maynard's time in office, the guy did run for the leadership in 1979 and representing the Northern Peninsula district of St.Barbe he gets a cabinet spot because of geography.
Ron Dawe would get #3 speaker. Though we now know Dawe as the guy who switched parties in 2003 when he couldn't get the PC nomination. The guy still had a stellar 10 year political career and surprised many by not running in the 1989 election or the 1989 leadership.
Anthony Murphy would get Human Resources, Labor and Employment: Murphy was a MHA for 17 years in the 60's and 70's and saw time in the PC leader's chair. He was one of only 3 PC's elected in 1966.
John Collins would get transportation: Collins was a high-ranking cabinet minister under Brian Peckford, though this is not health or finance it's still a big department.
John Crosbie would get Finance: It makes sense that this guy would get a lofty portfolio in a dream PC caucus cabinet. Crosbie gets this because of his name but because of his performance over 27 years in politics at both the provincial and federal level.
Charlie Brett would get environment. Brett was minister of everything in the Moores and Peckford governments, including environment.
Jerome Dinn would get Tourism. Rounding out the dream PC cabinet is the guy that I picked to represent Virginia Waters over the current premier. Dinn was a minister of mines and labour during his time in office.
So here is the PC cabinet:
Premier: Danny Williams
Finance: John Crosbie
Health: Tom Rideout
Mines and Energy: Brian Peckford
Fisheries: Haig Young
Transportation: John Collins
Education: Gerry Ottenheimer
Innovation: Loyola Sullivan
Human Resources: Anthony Murphy
Municipal Affairs: Neil Windsor
Justice: Alec Hickman
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs: Joe Rousseau
Tourism: Jerome Dinn
Environment: Charlie Brett
Government Services: Harold Collins
Intergovernmental Affairs: Bill Doody
Forestry: Len Simms
Business: Ed Maynard
Child, Youth and Family Services: Lynn Verge
No Portfolio: Bill Marshall
Speaker: Tom Hickey
Deputy Speaker: Jim Morgan
#2 Speaker: Ron Dawe
Now a look at the Liberal caucus:
Fred Rowe (Baie Verte)
Clyde Wells (Bay Of Islands)
Percy Barrett (Bellevue)
Joey Smallwood (Bonavista North)
Rossy Barbour (Bonavista South)
Kelvin Parsons (Burgeo Lapoile)
Patrick Canning (Burin Placentia West)
George Clarke (Carbonear Hr.Grace)
Yvonne Jones (Cartwright Lanse Au Clair)
Steve Neary (Conception Bay East Bell Island)
Patt Cowan (Conception Bay South)
Roger Grimes (Exploits)
Myles Murray (Ferrlyand)
Oliver Langdon (Fortune Bay Cape La Hune)
Beaton Abbott (Gander)
Judy Foote (Grand Bank)
Ed Spencer (Grand Falls Windsor Buchans)
Bill Smallwood (Grand Falls Windsor Green Bay South)
Phil Lewis (Hr.Main)
Charlie Ballam (Humber East)
Rick Woodford (Humber Valley)
Paul Dicks (Humber West)
John Nolan (Kilbride)
Tom Burgess (Lab West)
Earl Winsor (Lake Melville)
Leslie Curtis (Lewisporte)
Eric Gullage (Mt.Pearl North)
Julie Bettney (Mt.Pearl South)
James Mcgrath (Placentia and St.Mary's)
Bill Keough (Port Au Port)
John Efford (Port De Grave)
James Chalker (St.Barbe)
Kevin Aylward (St.George's Stephenville East)
Hubert Kitchen (St.John's Centre)
Lloyd Matthews (St.John's North)
Tom Murphy (St.John's South)
Rex Gibbons (St.John's West)
Tom Lush (Terra Nova)
Walter Carter (The Isles Of Notre Dame)
Ed Roberts (The Straits White Bay North)
Ralph Wiseman (Topsail)
Wally Andersen (Torngat Mountains)
Uriah Strickland (Trinity Bay De Verde)
Sam Hefferton (Trinity North)
Walter Noel (Virginia Waters)
So here's the Liberal cabinet based upon their dream caucus:
Fred Rowe would get transportation:: I've often said that had Joey Smallwood not held onto power for over 20 years Fred Rowe probably would have became premier. As it was Rowe did enter the 1969 leadership race but backed out. Rowe was one of Mister Smallwood's most effective ministers, transportation was one of the departments he spent time at and he gets that spot in the dream Liberal caucus cabinet.
Clyde Wells would get Finance: Wells has finance minister written all over him, his premiership was all about getting the province's finances under control. While he was chastised for some of his measures people can argue that they where needed at that time. If we are doing this for the present day it would be interesting to see how Wells would spend the province's new found wealth. If he was like me he'd spend some and save some which I hope is what our finance minister does in this year's budget.
Joey Smallwood would get the premiership: There's no other choice really, Smallwood served the province as premier for 22 years and whether you liked him or not you can't question the mark he left on the people of this province as it's premier.
George Clarke would be the speaker of the house: Clarke served as house speaker for 10 years which makes him the longest serving speaker in the province's history, in this dream Liberal caucus he becomes their speaker.
Yvonne Jones would get Innovation: It's doubtful that I'd put Jones into this cabinet if it wheren't for the team she spent as leader of the Liberal party. Innovation is at the bottom of the high-level cabinet posts more or less so it's where Yvonne Jones goes.
Steve Neary would get Human Resources, Labor and Employment: Neary was one of more influential Liberals of his time and his 7 election wins rank him near the top in that category. He also spent time as party leader and served in the Smallwood cabinet.
Roger Grimes would get Health. Say all you well about Grimes' time as premier the guy was actually pretty effective in cabinet. He gets the high profile position of Health based upon his time as party leader/premier and the fact that he was a heavyweight minister for both Clyde Wells and Brian Tobin.
Beaton Abbott would get Environment: Abbott was the first MHA for the Gander district. He was a MHA for 15 years between 1956 and 1971.
Judy Foote would get Economic Development: The Liberals never did like the Business department so they'll put this spot forward and give the post to Judy Foote. Throughout her 7 years as a MHA on the government side Foote was a member of cabinet and served in many economic roles.
Ed Spencer would get Government Services: Another MHA who probably would have ran for the leadership had Smallwood only been premier for a handful of years. Spencer was a MHA for many years during the Smallwood era.
Charlie Ballam would get the Deputy Speaker spot: Ballam served as Labour minister for 17 years under Premier Smallwood. I don't know why Smallwood didn't see to move Ballam to a higher portfolio. Yes Ballam was known as a union organizer but you don't keep the same person in the same spot for 17 years. In this dream Liberal caucus I give the deputy speaker spot to Ballam.
Paul Dicks would get Tourism: Dicks should probably get a higher position than Tourism but when you look at the fact you have former party leaders and premiers also looking to get spots here you should be happy to be in the cabinet. Dicks gets Tourism, he served as MHA for 12 years and has been mentioned as a possible federal candidate in the past.
Earl Winsor would get Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs: The 7-term MHA Winsor represented a district in Labrador for 15 years so thus he gets this position in the dream Liberal caucus cabinet.
Leslie Curtis would get justice: Curtis was the minister here during the Smallwood era, he gets it again here in the dream Liberal caucus cabinet.
Julie Bettney would get Child, Youth and Family Services: Though Bettney's time in provincial politics is relatively recent this position didn't exist until 2009, still Bettney gets the spot here in the dream Liberal caucus cabinet.
Bill Keough would get the #3 speaker position: Rounding out the speakers in this dream Liberal caucus would be Bill Keough. A high-profile minister during the Smallwood era.
John Efford would get Fisheries: This is the perfect spot for Efford. He has said that of the 16 years he spent in provincial politics his favourite time was as minister of fisheries. I think you think of the fisheries portfolio and you think of John Efford.
James Chalker would get Municipal Affairs: A consistent member of the Liberal cabinet under Joey Smallwood, Chalker is another person who probably would of ran for premier had Smallwood left 10 years earlier. That said Chalker gets the lofty position here of municipal affairs minister.
Kevin Aylward would be forestry minister: Aylward was never the strongest member of the Liberal governments he served in between 1989 and 2003 but he was still party leader and thus should get a spot in their dream caucus. Forestry is where you'll find Aylward in this dream caucus.
Lloyd Matthews would get Education: Geography is the main reason behind this lofty position for Lloyd Matthews. The man though held a lot of portfolios during his time in office, education being 1 of them for a brief time.
Walter Carter would get Intergovernmental Affairs: Being that Carter served at both the provincial and federal level and was a member of both parties it only makes sense that he would get this spot in the dream Liberal caucus.
Ed Roberts would get Mines and Energy: Perhaps my favourite Liberal ever, Roberts is perhaps the best opposition leader to never be premier in the province's history. He had a stellar 23 year political career and thus gets this lofty position in the dream cabinet.
Sam Hefferton would be minister without portfolio: Hefferton held a couple of portfolios under Premier Smallwood so he gets minister without portfolio here.
So here's the dream Liberal cabinet:
Premier: Joey Smallwood
Finance: Clyde Wells
Health: Roger Grimes
Mines and Energy:Ed Roberts
Fisheries: John Efford
Transportation:Fred Rowe
Education: Lloyd Matthews
Innovation: Yvonne Jones
Human Resources:Steve Neary
Municipal Affairs: James Chalker
Justice: Leslie Curtis
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs: Earl Winsor
Tourism: Paul Dicks
Environment:Beaton Abbott
Government Services:Ed Spencer
Intergovernmental Affairs:Walter Carter
Forestry: Kevin Aylward
Economic Development: Judy Foote
Child, Youth and Family Services:Julie Bettney
No Portfolio: Sam Hefferton
Speaker: George Clarke
Deputy Speaker: Charlie Ballam
#2 Speaker: Bill Keough
The blogger thanks everyone for reading his blog, he can be reached via email at tducey1@gmail.com.
