EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Ralph Klein went back to the future Wednesday, snaring former adviser and friend Rod Love to be his chief of staff for his final term.

The premier announced the move as he rolled out a new 24-member cabinet that brings together a mix of old and new faces.

Love, who was Klein's closest adviser for nearly two decades and ran his campaigns for mayor, Tory leader and premier, replaces Steve West, who is heading back to the private sector.

Love left Klein's office in 1998 to begin a private consulting business. He also did a short stint as chief of staff for former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day.

Before Monday's Alberta election, he mused that his years with Klein had been special.

"I had a great run with him -- 19 years,'' he said. "Everything I have got in this world I owe to him.''

The Tories won the Monday vote, capturing 61 seats in the 83-seat legislature. But the victory party was subdued as opposition members reclaimed a number of Tory seats in Edmonton and even won in Klein's hometown of Calgary.

Klein said West served him well in a transition period after Love's successor, Peter Elzinga, stepped down last April.

"I am very pleased to welcome Rod back to my staff,'' he said. "With a new mandate for our government and a very important social agenda ahead for Alberta, having Rod as my chief of staff will bring proven experience to my office team.''

The biggest news in Klein's cabinet shuffle is his decision to move possible successor Gary Mar from health to the more junior post of community development.

Former children's services minister Iris Evans takes over in the all-important health portfolio, which is under the spotlight as a result of Klein's promise to push ahead with cost-cutting reforms he believes are necessary to make the health system sustainable.

Evans took some criticism last year for establishing a child adoption website -- but the move boosted adoption rates and eventually earned her kudos across Canada.

Deputy premier Shirley McClellan, who handled the mad cow crisis from her agriculture portfolio, moves to the new combined department of finance and revenue.

David Hancock moves from Justice to the new Department of Advanced Education, Ed Stelmach goes from Infrastructure to International and Governmental Relations, Gene Zwozdesky goes from Community Development to Education and Greg Melchin goes from Finance to Energy.

A new cabinet minister, Luke Ouellette, becomes the minister of restructuring and government efficiency -- a new department that is responsible for developing ideas and policies to streamline government.

"The job is not about reductions or cutbacks,'' Klein said in a written statement. "It's about improving and simplifying, as much as possible, the organization of government.''

Ron Stevens leaves Gaming to head the Department of Justice and Attorney General, Lyle Oberg goes from Education to a new combined ministry of infrastructure and transportation, and Guy Boutilier is the new minister of environment.

The new cabinet, still one of the largest in Canada, features eight new faces including Ouellette.

Rob Renner takes over Municipal Affairs, Victor Doerksen is the new minister of innovation and science, David Coutts is the minister of sustainable resource development and Gordon Graydon is minister of gaming.

Doug Horner replaces McClellan as agriculture minister, Yvonne Fritz takes charge of a revamped new ministry of seniors and community supports and Harvey Cenaiko is solicitor general.