He served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1989 until 2008 as a Progressive Conservative representing the electoral districts of Athabasca-Lac La Biche, Athabasca-Wabasca, and Athabasca-Redwater.
[1] There he developed a native housing/relocation program before moving to the department of Advanced Education and Manpower, where he served as regional supervisor of Employment/Counselling Services for ten years.
He served a further three years as a regional manager of Employment and Relocation Counselling Services, and three more as a senior consultant to the Assistant Deputy Minister of Advanced Education and Manpower.
Cardinal first sought provincial office in the 1989 election, when he ran as a Progressive Conservative against incumbent New Democrat Leo Piquette in the riding of Athabasca-Lac La Biche.
It passed without significant controversy, though Liberal Nicholas Taylor questioned a portion of the bill that stipulated that the land, as it was communally owned, could not be mortgaged.
[15][16] Premier Klein continued to support Cardinal as a Minister, arguing he was meeting his obligations and agreement with his daughter and the mother.
[18][19] In 1996, pilots for the Government of Alberta charter aircraft reported to the Premier that Cardinal had ordered flight plan deviations to pick up an unauthorized female passenger.
[23] Cardinal was able to responded to gasoline and natural gas challenges by providing two $150 rebate cheques, but the government held firm that electricity rates would eventually come down through deregulation.
[24][25] The government's response to deregulation in 2000, a year before the provincial election, was described as "throwing money" as the problem in hopes it would be resolved,[24] and making policy "on the fly".