Alberta watches for Trudeau cabinet picks

When Justin Trudeau announces hiscabinet Wednesday, Albertans will be watching if at least one, maybetwo, of the province's new Liberal MPs will be tapped for a spot.

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Kent Hehr and Darshan Kang were elected respectively in Calgary-Centre and Calgary-Skyviewin theOct. 19 federal election.Randy Boissonnault won in Edmonton-Centre,and a judicial recount confirmed city Coun.Amarjeet Sohi was the victor in Edmonton-Mill Woods by a margin of 95 votes.

Alberta Liberal Leader David Swann worked with Hehr and Kang when they were Liberal MLAs.

He said he hopes Alberta has at least onerepresentativein the Trudeau cabinet.

"Alberta is critically important to the national agenda and the economy, and I daresay there will be one and maybe two in the cabinet," he said.

The four men bring various assets to the table as potential cabinet ministers.

Boissonnault has been touted for his francophone connections and ability to speak French and English. But many political observers saySohi and Hehr are the most likely to get the call.

Sohiisin his third term on Edmonton citycouncil.Hehr was the MLA for Calgary-Buffalo for seven years and unseated Conservative Joan Crockatt in a tight race.

Both Hehrand Kang are the first Liberals elected federally in Calgary since 1968.

Time to 'walk the walk'

Regional representation isn't the only factor in appointingcabinet ministers.

Trudeauhas said hewants to have an equal number of men and women in his inner circle.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley set the tone for gender parity when she appointed her first cabinet last spring. She now has six men and six women serving as ministers.

Notley said Tuesday ensuringgender parity on cabinetis an important step towards increasing women's participation in politics.

"Sometimes you just have to walk the walk," she said. "And you've just got to make the decision."

The new Liberal government in Ottawa is giving Swann new hope that theAlberta Liberals can reunite with the federal party.

The provincial party split with the federal partydue to bitterness in Alberta overpolicies like theNational Energy Program,introduced by Pierre Trudeau, the prime minister designate's father.

With the provincialLiberals down to one elected MLA, Swann said restarting the relationship with the federal party can help rebuild the provincial wing.

"We now need to start moving more towards reconciliation and working together," he said. "It's been an unhealthy and unproductive separation, in my view, that needs to be redressed."

Swann is the interim leader of hisparty. A permanent leader will be chosen inApril, he said.

Watch our CBC News Special: The Trudeau Government on Wednesday starting at 9:30 am ET on CBC News Network, CBC TV and livestreaming on CBCNews.ca.

Or listen to our radio special starting at 10:20 am ET on CBC Radio One.