Premier Greg Selinger's cabinet underwent a big shakeup Friday.
The minister responsible for raising the PST has been shuffled to a new portfolio. Stan Struthers is now minister of municipal government and hydro.
“Minister Struthers has played a very strong role at a very difficult time of recession, major flooding in Manitoba. He took a balanced approach,” said Selinger.
Jennifer Howard takes over as finance minister.
Struthers fronted the unpopular decision to raise the PST to eight per cent in the summer.
"It's never easy to introduce a tax. I get that. I think we all understand that but it was necessary to do so,” he said.
Manitoba’s PC party said moving Struthers out of finance was akin to firing him.
Liberal leader Jon Gerrard said Struthers clearly got moved out of finance due to the PST hike fallout.
Gerrard pointed towards the province bypassing a mandatory referendum needed to raise sales taxes.
"They didn't do it and it was a major problem for the government and poor handling. That's why he was changed, I believe,” said Gerrard.
Prior to becoming the new finance minister, Jennifer Howard has managed a number of portfolios, including serving as minister of family services and labour and minister responsible for the status of women and persons with disabilities.
Manitoba also has a new health minister through the cabinet shuffle.
Erin Selby replaces Theresa Oswald. Oswald becomes the minister of jobs and the economy.
Oswald said she wanted a change after seven years with the health portfolio.
“I was interested in a change and growing and learning in new ways,” said Oswald.
Jim Rondeau, Christine Melnick, and Nancy Allan are out of the cabinet. MLAs Sharon Blady, Erna Braun and James Allum are the new appointees.
Kerri Irvin-Ross steps into the role of minister of family services.
“It was important for us to reset the whole team,” said Selinger.
"We see a lot of economic uncertainty out there. We see the requirement to protect communities from floods so we are going to have that focus on jobs and the economy,” said Selinger.
- with a report from Jeff Keele
_____________________________________________________________
Full list of Manitoba Executive Council (source: Province of Manitoba)
Greg Selinger, Premier of Manitoba, minister of federal-provincial relations, minister responsible for the skills strategy, minister responsible for francophone affairs
Steve Ashton, minister of infrastructure and transportation, minister responsible for emergency measures
Dave Chomiak, minister of mineral resources, minister charged with the administration of the Gaming Control Act
Gord Mackintosh, minister of conservation and water stewardship
Eric Robinson, minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs, minister charged with the administration of the Community Economic Development Fund Act
Ron Lemieux, minister of tourism, culture, sport and consumer protection, minister charged with the administration of the Liquor Control Act, minister charged with the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act
Stan Struthers, minister of municipal government, minister charged with administration of the Manitoba Hydro Act
Peter Bjornson, minister of housing and community development
Theresa Oswald, minister of jobs and the economy
Kerri Irvin-Ross, minister of family services, minister responsible for the status of women
Andrew Swan, minister of justice and attorney general, minister charged with administration of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act , government house leader
Jennifer Howard, minister of finance, chair of Treasury Board, minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission, minister responsible for persons with disabilities
Flor Marcelino, minister of multiculturalism and literacy
Erin Selby, minister of health
Kevin Chief, minister responsible for the City of Winnipeg, minister responsible for children and youth opportunities
Ron Kostyshyn, minister of agriculture, food and rural development
Sharon Blady, minister of healthy living and seniors
Erna Braun, minister of labour and immigration
James Allum, minister of education and advanced learning
MANITOBA DEPUTY MINISTERS
Harvey Bostrom, deputy minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs
Joy Cramer, deputy minister of family services
Grant Doak, deputy minister of conservation and water stewardship
Hugh Eliasson, deputy minister of jobs and the economy, deputy minister of mineral resources
Gerald Farthing, deputy minister of education and advanced learning
Dori Gingera-Beauchemin, deputy minister of agriculture, food and rural development
Terry Goertzen, deputy minister of tourism, culture, sport and consumer protection
Karen Herd, deputy minister of health, deputy minister of healthy living and seniors
Jim Hrichishen, deputy minister of finance
Doug McNeil, deputy minister of infrastructure and transportation
Fred Meier, deputy minister of municipal government, deputy minister for the City of Winnipeg
Donna Miller, deputy minister of justice and attorney general
Jeff Parr, deputy minister of housing and community development, deputy minister of labour and immigration
Jan Sanderson, deputy minister of children and youth opportunities
Cindy Stevens, deputy minister of multiculturalism and literacy
