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Cabinet

Most people think that a cabinet is a place to store dishes or something like that, which is true. That is only one meaning of the word. The meaning we are talking about here has to do with politics and government.

The Cabinet, or Executive Council, consists of ministers chosen by the Premier to develop policy, new laws, and spending proposals. The cabinet is
"the government"
in the parliamentary system, and each cabinet minister usually heads a government department. For example, the Minister of Health and Wellness, and so on.

No law says that ministers must be elected MLAs. However, in the parliamentary system, tradition can be as powerful as law, and it is a longstanding tradition that the Premier picks cabinet ministers from among the MLAs in his or her party and decides what their areas of responsibility should be.

Privacy of cabinet meetings is another age-old tradition. It enables ministers to discuss policies freely with one another and advise the Premier with absolute honesty. In fact, the term "cabinet" comes from the type of meeting place preferred by the first cabinets in
British Parliamentary history: small rooms where secret discussions took place.

Also customary in the parliamentary system is cabinet solidarity or unity. Once cabinet has made a policy decision, ministers are expected either to support it or resign. Cabinet ministers are also expected to accept responsibility as a group for government activities and personal responsibility for their departments.


Learn more about the Executive Council here!

cabinet members

cabinet members