Hon. Maureen Kubinec, Minister of Culture and Tourism
Last week Premier Jim Prentice officially took the helm, and put together a smaller cabinet than his predecessor.
Among the appointees is Three Hills raised Maureen Kubinec, MLA for Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock. She has been named Minister of Culture and Tourism. Her sister Joan Kubinec says she is confident Maureen will do well in her new posting. This is Kubinec’s first time as a Government Minister.
“She is quite excited,” said Joan of speaking with her sister. “She has been president of the school board association and has been in the political field for a while. She has really worked hard.”
Maureen does have an impressive resume. Before becoming president of the Alberta School Board Association, she was a Trustee with the Three Hills and Pembina School Boards. She was vice chair of the Persons with Developmental Disabilities North East Community Board, and was a councillor and Deputy Reeve for Westlock County.
She was elected MLA in 2012 and has served as chair of the Standing Committee of Privilege and Elections, Standing Orders, and Printing. She is also a member of the Special Standing Committee on Members Services and the Standing Committee on Alberta’s Economic Futures. She sat on the Alberta Heritage Trust Fund and Resource Stewardship Standing Committees as well.
Her sister Joan says Maureen has rural Alberta at heart.
“She wants to get out to some of the outlying communities,” said Joan. "I’m sure she will do a good job, she worked hard for it.”
Kneehill County Reeve Bob Long has known and worked with Kubinec for a number of years.
“We have met on several occasions, and I knew her when she was still a resident of this area. I also knew her when she was deputy reeve,” said Long. “She is an intelligent lady. She has been in these higher level positions and she’ll be a good minister.”
He has already congratulated Kubinec on her appointment.
Long is also president of Canadian Badlands, which works closely with Alberta Tourism.
“I gave her some information on the Badlands, who we were, and the size of our organization,” said Long. “She said she looked forward to a meeting and would be more than willing to have more discussions.”
