The operating manual for Alberta Infrastructure minister is thick and it's heavy reading that Airdrie-Cochrane MLA has already started to tackle in his new role in the Danielle Smith government.

Getting that insight into the role right off the hop is essential, especially when you consider the financial responsibilities.

"Our government is planning on spending over $20 billion in our capital plan over the next three years, so that's between transportation, infrastructure, etc., and infrastructure is a big part of that, building schools, hospitals, you name it," says Guthrie.

"With that kind of program ahead of us, there's a lot of work to do, and I think I can add value there."

"They'll be a lot of interactions with various groups from health to municipalities to you name it. There's a lot of work to be done and stakeholders to meet in short order."

Fortunately, he's not entirely new to helping make infrastructure decisions for the province. He was among those assisting Prasad Panda when he first took the post.

"There was a small group of MLAs who had to early on helped him with some of the procurement process streamlining. So I have dabbled a little bit in this department, and I'm really looking forward to getting started on it this week."

Being an engineer is a benefit as is his experience in small business and ranching.

He doesn't believe his relationships with municipalities in his constituency will become a little more challenging.

"No, not awkward at all. Actually, I think it's advantageous for me to be in this role. I'm going to be able to first hand see how projects are coming and work with Rocky View, Airdrie, and Cochrane. You know, we all have close relationships and this is going to do nothing except provide us with a little bit more insight here." 

He was Alberta's Energy minister for Danielle Smith's first eight months in office. 

"I enjoyed my time there. That said, we all knew that going into the end of that last mandate that our jobs were going to be short-term and that after the election there were going to be great changes taking place.

"Sure enough, there were very few ministers that stayed put. We need to go where we can, where we're asked to, and where we can contribute the most. So I'm very, very happy about this move and I'm looking forward to the new challenge."

He's no longer on the province's treasury board and says there is commonly a rotation of MLAs into that role.

"You never know, years into the future I may end up being asked to serve there, but it is a lot of additional commitment on top of my current ministerial commitments. For right now, I'm quite satisfied when I'm beginning a new ministry to not also have that on my shoulders."

Guthrie attended and participated in both the Filipino celebration and the Sport4Life Try-It Day over the weekend.