Manitoba cabinet shuffle reframes health portfolio, brings back former Pallister cabinet member
Premier Heather Stefanson has shuffled her cabinet – reframing the health portfolio, bringing in three new faces, and adding a former cabinet minister who left under Pallister's government.
On Tuesday, Stefanson unveiled her new cabinet at the Manitoba Legislative Building, and will then be available to answer the media’s questions at 2:30 p.m. CTV Winnipeg is live-streaming the event.
Eileen Clarke is returning to cabinet as Minister of Municipal Relations – a ministry she had held previously. In July, Clarke had stepped down as Indigenous and Northern Affairs Minister under former Premier Brian Pallister's government following controversial comments Pallister had made about colonial settlers.
"I have no regrets to this day for my resignation. I did it for all the right reasons," Clarke said following the swearing-in ceremony.
Clarke said, at the time of her resignation she did not anticipate to be asked to join cabinet again.
"For the premier to invite me back into Cabinet was really a great day," she said, adding she has a good relationship with Stefanson.
Among the other changes to cabinet, Minister Cliff Cullen has been replaced by Wayne Ewasko as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning. Cullen will now take on the role of Deputy Premier and Minister of Economic Development, Investment, and Trade.
'REFRAMED HEALTH PORTFOLIO'
With the cabinet shuffle, Stefanson announced a change to the former Health and Seniors Care portfolio, along with the former portfolio for Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery – two departments previously led by Audrey Gordon.
As of Tuesday, Gordon will now lead what the province is calling a "reframed health portfolio" as Minister of Health. The province said Gordon will be mandated to strengthen resources to manage COVID-19 and work with the Surgical and Diagnostic Task Force to clear the backlogs.
Assiniboia MLA Scott Johnston is joining cabinet as the minister for the new Seniors and Long-term Care department. The province said Johnston will focus on implementing recommendations of the Stevenson Review.
Sarah Guillemard, the MLA for Fort Richmond, will serve as minister of mental health and community wellness – a ministry focused on addressing and treating addictions and mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.
NEW ADDITIONS TO STEFANSON'S CABINET
Johnston was not the only new face to be added to Stefanson's cabinet on Tuesday.
Doyle Piwniuk – the MLA for Turtle Mountain – was sworn in as as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Andrew Smith – the MLA for Lagimodiere – is taking on the role of minister of sport, culture and heritage, and minister responsible for Travel Manitoba and the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation (MCCC).
APPOINTMENT OF A LABOUR MINISTER 'LONG PAST DUE' SAYS MFL
Reg Helwer, the MLA for Brandon West, was sworn in as Minister of Labour, consumer protection and government services, as well as Minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and minister responsible for the Civil service.
The Manitoba Federation of Labour (MFL) said an appointment of a minister of labour is 'long past due' saying Manitoba has not had a labour minister in nearly six years.
"We are glad to finally have someone to work with on important issues that matter to working people in our province. However, today's appointment is the bare minimum," said MFL President Kevin Rebeck in a statement.
"What this government does to support working people over the next few months will matter most."
The appointment is also being welcomed by Kyle Ross, the president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union.
"Appointing a Labour Minister is a good first step in showing front line workers, and all Manitobans, that the government is committed to resetting the relationship with workers in Manitoba," Ross said in a statement.
"The new Minister will know there is a lot of work to do to restore confidence in this government after years of cuts, privatization, wage freezes, strikes, and contracts that have been ignored for years."
OTHER CABINET SHUFFLES
The other changes to cabinet include
- Kelvin Goertzen (MLA for Steinbach) as Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and Minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and government house leader;
- Cameron Friesen (MLA for Morden-Winkler) as Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro;
- Scott Fielding (MLA for Kirkfield Park) as Minister of Natural Resources and Northern Development, and minister responsible for the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL);
- Jeff Wharton (MLA for Red River North) as minister of environment, climate and parks, and minister responsible for Efficiency Manitoba;
- Derek Johnson (MLA for Interlake-Gimli) as Minister of Agriculture; and
- Jon Reyes (MLA for Waverley) as minister of advanced education, skills and immigration.
- Rochelle Squires will take on the roles of minister responsible for the status of women and minister responsible for accessibility, along with her current portfolio as minister of families and minister responsible for francophone affairs.
- Alan Lagimodiere remains the minister of Indigenous reconciliation and northern relations.
TWO MINISTERS GET THE BOOT
The shuffle did see two ministers get the boot from cabinet.
Ralph Eichler, the former minister of agriculture and resource development, and Cathy Cox, the former minister of sport, culture and heritage and the minister responsible for the status of women, are no longer a part of cabinet. The premier thanked the two former ministers for their service.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Still so much love between us,' Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.