Premier Greg Selinger shuffled his cabinet Monday after five senior ministers resigned from their posts.

Selkirk MLA Greg Dewar enters cabinet for the first time, replacing Finance Minister Jennifer Howard. James Allum is the new justice minister. Sharon Blady takes over for health. Kevin Chief is now in the jobs portfolio and Brandon MLA Drew Caldwell gets the post as minister of municipal government, after a decade out of cabinet.

Howard, Andrew Swan (former justice minister), Theresa Oswald (former jobs minister), Stan Struthers (former minister of municipal government) and Erin Selby (former health minister), say Premier Selinger has stopped listening to their advice over the last few months.

The former ministers say for months Selinger has not listened to their concerns about their priorities and his own leadership.

Struthers says after a meeting with Selinger, he realized Selinger did not want advice, rather he was seeking validation.

Selinger announced his new cabinet appointments a few hours after the five resigned.

"I made it clear: either focus on the priorities of Manitoba families as a part of our team, or resign. I am saddened by the decisions they've made. I wish to thank each for their contributions toward building a better province," said Selinger.

The province said the changes see the number of cabinet ministers reduced to 18 from 19.

The full cabinet is:

  • Greg Selinger: premier, minister of federal-provincial relations, minister for skills strategy, minister responsible for francophone affairs
  • Steve Ashton: infrastructure and transportation, emergency measures
  • Dave Chomiak: mineral resources, administration of the Gaming Control Act
  • Gord Mackintosh: conservation and water stewardship
  • Eric Robinson: aboriginal and northern affairs, responsible for Manitoba Hydro, administration of the Community Economic Development Fund Act
  • Drew Caldwell: municipal government
  • Ron Lemieux: tourism, culture, heritage, 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
  • Peter Bjornson: education and advanced learning.
  • Kerri Irvin-Ross: family services, minister of housing and community development, minister responsible for the civil service, minister responsible for persons with disabilities, minister responsible for the status of women
  • Flor Marcelino: multiculturalism and literacy
  • Kevin Chief: jobs and the economy, responsible for the City of Winnipeg.
  • Ron Kostyshyn: agriculture, food and rural development.
  • Sharon Blady: health
  • Erna Braun: labour and immigration
  • James Allum: justice and attorney general, responsible for constitutional affairs, administration of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act.
  • Greg Dewar: finance, minister charged with the administration of the Crown Corporations Public Review and Accountability Act, minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board
  • Deanne Crothers: healthy living and seniors.
  • Melanie Wight: children and youth opportunities.

- with a report from Jeff Keele and files from The Canadian Press

Premier Selinger's statement:

Last week I had direct conversations with members of my team who have chosen another path. In those conversations I made it clear: either focus on the priorities of Manitoba families as a part of our team, or resign. I am saddened by the decisions they've made. I wish to thank each for their contributions toward building a better province.

In 2011, Manitobans elected a dedicated, diverse and experienced group of New Democrat MLAs, representative of every region of our province, with experience in a wide variety of fields.

I will appoint a new cabinet from this talented team. ‎Our government will remain focused on the priorities of all Manitobans- creating jobs and opportunities, investing in infrastructure and protecting services. The new cabinet will be sworn in today and the ceremony will be livestreamed on CTV Winnipeg.

Statement from the five resigning ministers:

For some time, it has been increasingly difficult to do our jobs because the Premier has stopped listening to our advice. This has been the case since we privately discussed, at his invitation, our concerns about his leadership.

In recent weeks and months, it has become clear to us that he is increasingly being driven by his desire to hold onto his leadership rather than by the best interests of Manitobans.

To do their jobs, ministers need to be able to speak up honestly in cabinet and disagree with the Premier at times without fear that speaking their minds on some points will mean their voices are ignored on the things that are important to Manitobans. Increasingly, in the last few months, this has not been the case.

Our decision to resign is not because of any single issue or a single decision. It is because we can no longer work with a Premier who refuses to hear us. He refuses to hear us not just on the leadership issue, but also on a wide range of issues in our portfolios.

There are many important issues and there is much work to do. But we cannot work together on the priorities of Manitobans if we cannot be honest with the Premier.

We are proud of many accomplishments on behalf of Manitobans during our time in cabinet. Many of these achievements are owed to the Premier, and it extremely difficult for us to leave other work unfinished. However, remaining in cabinet with integrity is no longer an option.

We will continue to serve as MLAs and to work for our constituents. We will continue to be New Democrats, because that is the party whose values we share.

We thank the Premier for the opportunity to serve in cabinet. Our resignations take effect as soon as a smooth transition can be arranged.  We will, of course, offer whatever information and assistance is needed to those who take our places.

Our motivation to run for office was to make life better for all Manitobans, but especially those with the least.  That remains our motivation, and that is why we believe the stakes could not be higher in the next election.  

Everybody who runs in an election knows they might not win.  Winning elections isn’t about getting a big office or a fancy title.  For us, winning elections is about winning the right to stand up for the very people who would be most hurt by a Brian Pallister government.  And that is what has motivated us and will continue to motivate us in the days and weeks and months ahead.

Jennifer Howard
Minister of Finance
MLA Fort Rouge


Andrew Swan
Minister of Justice
MLA Minto

Theresa Oswald
Minister for Jobs and the Economy
MLA Seine River

Stan Struthers
Minister of Municipal Government
MLA Dauphin

Erin Selby
Minister of Health
MLA Southdale