Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in our Assembly, those who sit on Cabinet are chosen by all Members. However, it is up to the Premier to determine the assignment of portfolios. In doing so, the Premier has to consider a number of factors, including the interests and abilities of Cabinet Members, and fair and equitable workloads. With many challenges in Cabinet for Ministers during the life of this government, the Premier also has to consider continuity in ministerial direction to departments. Mr. Speaker, looking at all these factors, the Ordinary Members' Caucus would like to express concern about the distribution of portfolios among Cabinet Members. It is not a new concern and we have shared it with the Premier before.
We currently have two competent Cabinet Ministers with only one portfolio each. In contrast, the Premier has six portfolios out of a possible 22, Mr. Speaker. Through her portfolios, the Premier is directly responsible for over a quarter of the government's budget, more than any other Cabinet Minister. Among the Premier's six portfolios is one of the most difficult, due to the challenges of amalgamation, Mr. Speaker. Health and Social Services, with the current changes under way, needs a lot of attention and support from its Minister.
This direct involvement with departments is confusing to Members. In the view of the ordinary Members, the Premier should play a role of overseeing the government. Mr. Speaker, it is her job to look at the whole picture and deal with the Prime Minister and other Premiers on issues of concern. We question how well she can do this when she must be concerned with the day-to-day happenings of a number of departments.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to seek unanimous consent to continue.