Premier Announces Historic Cabinet Shuffle

Premier Tim Houston announced history making changes to the provincial cabinet today.

Twila Grosse, who won the recent by-election in Preston, joins cabinet as Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and Minister of the Public Service Commission. It marks the first female African Nova Scotian member of the Nova Scotia Executive Council.

The Premier says, “Twila has proven to be a hard worker dedicated to her community and she will make a strong addition to government. I congratulate her on this historic appointment and welcome her to the cabinet table.”

He also announced that Karla MacFarlane will be nominated as the first female Speaker when the House of Assembly resumes on Thursday, October 12. She will retain her designation as Minister until a Speaker is chosen.

The current Speaker, Keith Bain, will resign his post on the first day of the upcoming session. He will continue to sit as an MLA.

Houston said, “Karla has been a dedicated minister and an important member of my cabinet. I'm pleased to nominate her as the first female Speaker of the House, another historic first in the province.”

He added, “I also thank Keith for his service as Speaker of the House, where he has done an excellent job over the past two years.”

Trevor Boudreau, MLA for Richmond, becomes Minister of Community Services and Minister responsible for L'nu Affairs. Minister MacFarlane will assist Boudreau at the Department of Community Services until the House of Assembly resumes.

Kent Smith, MLA for Eastern Shore, joins cabinet as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Allan MacMaster becomes Minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, while retaining his current responsibilities as Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, Minister of Labour Relations, Minister of Gaelic Affairs, and Deputy Premier.

Barbara Adams becomes the Minister responsible for Military Relations while continuing as Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care.

Jill Balser takes over responsibility for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women while keeping her portfolio as Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration.

Premier Houston thanked outgoing ministers Pat Dunn and Steve Craig for their work and dedication over the past two years. They will continue to sit as MLAs.

Meanwhile, the Premier also announced changes to the senior ranks of the public service.

An executive deputy team will be created to tackle the province's most pressing challenges and develop social, economic, and energy solutions. It will also work alongside the health leadership team to support healthcare transformation.

The Premier said, “Throughout the last two years, we've seen some of our deputy ministers rise to the challenge time and time again. They are ‘solutionists’. This new structure will focus on solving Nova Scotia's toughest challenges in a nimble and effective way.”

Members of the executive deputy team include Kelliann Dean, Paul LaFleche, Tracey Taweel, and Dana MacKenzie. They will report to Laura Lee Langley, Deputy Minister to the Premier and Head of the Public Service.

LaFleche and Taweel will be dedicated to the executive deputy team full-time. LaFleche was the deputy minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, and Seniors and Long-Term Care, while Taweel was the deputy minister of Community Services. 

Dean will remain Deputy Minister of Finance and Treasury Board, and MacKenzie will continue as Deputy Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Several new deputies and associate deputy ministers are being appointed:

• Byron Rafuse, a former deputy minister, rejoins the public service as Deputy Minister of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Ryan Grant becomes Deputy Minister of the Department of Advanced Education, moving from his executive director's role at Finance and Treasury Board
• Melissa MacKinnon becomes Deputy Minister of the Department of Community Services after serving as associate deputy minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage
• Tracey Barbrick becomes Deputy Minister of the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care after serving as the associate deputy minister
• Kathleen Trott becomes Deputy Minister of the Office of Addictions and Mental Health; she was the associate deputy minister of the Department of Health and Wellness
• Jennifer Church becomes Deputy Minister of the Office of Priorities and Planning and Deputy Minister of Communications Nova Scotia; she was associate deputy minister of the office and had the same role with the Department of Economic Development
• Lilani Kumaranayake, an executive director with Finance and Treasury Board, becomes an associate deputy minister of the Department, joining Geoff Gatien, who remains an associate deputy minister

Two deputy ministers are leaving the public service. Nancy MacLellan departs Advanced Education, while April Howe left Fisheries and Aquaculture.

Lesley O'Brien-Latham, an executive director at Fisheries and Aquaculture, will be the acting Deputy Minister of the Department.

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