Selinger names new Manitoba cabinet
Opposition calls addition of 3 portfolios wasteful
Last Updated: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 | 5:35 PM CT
CBC News
Greg Selinger, left, raises his arms in victory with opponent Steve Ashton at the October leadership convention in Winnipeg. Ashton remains in cabinet despite running against Selinger. (John Woods/Canadian Press)New Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger unveiled his first cabinet Tuesday afternoon, appointing three new ministers and shuffling most of the portfolios.
No previous ministers were dropped and the new cabinet members are:
- Jennifer Howard, minister of labour and immigration and minister responsible for persons with disabilities.
- Bill Blaikie, minister of conservation.
- Flor Marcelino, minister of culture, heritage and tourism.
One of the most high-profile changes was made to the position of finance minister.
Rosann Wowchuk becomes Manitoba's first female finance minister. She and Eric Robinson will also serve as deputy premiers. (Manitoba Legislative Assembly)
Selinger had held that post since the NDP came to power in 1999. It became vacant when he resigned in early September to enter the party's leadership race.
Selinger announced that veteran MLA Rosann Wowchuk is replacing him. Wowchuk becomes Manitoba's first female finance minister.
Wowchuk and Eric Robinson also become deputy premiers.
Selinger and fellow MLA Steve Ashton campaigned to be the party's next leader — and premier — after Gary Doer announced on Aug. 27 that he was stepping down.
Selinger was chosen as Doer's successor by party delegates at a leadership convention on Oct. 17.
His leadership rival was named as Manitoba's new minister of infrastructure and transportation, shifting from minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization.
Other changes to the cabinet include:
- Andrew Swan, minister of justice and attorney general.
- Stan Struthers, minister of agriculture, food and rural initiatives.
- Kerri Ivin-Ross, minister of housing and community development.
- Eric Robinson, minister of aboriginal and northern affairs.
- Jim Rondeau, minister of healthy living, citizenship and youth
- Peter Bjornson, minister of entrepreneurship, training and trade.
- Dave Chomiak, minister of innovation, energy and mines.
- Nancy Allen, minister of education.
- Ron Lemieux, minister of local government.
Teresa Oswald (health), Gord Mackintosh (family services), Diane McGifford (advanced education) and Christine Melnick (water stewardship) remain in charge of their respective portfolios.
Selinger assumes responsibility for federal-provincial relations and retains responsibility for francophone affairs.
"At a time of change and recession, we need as many bridges between Manitoba communities, Manitoba people and the government as possible. I think this cabinet will provide those bridges," Selinger said.
Andrew Swan, named Manitoba's new justice minister on Tuesday, could have a tough go in the demanding portfolio, Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen says. (Manitoba Legislative Assembly)Chomiak, who steps out of the role as justice minister and attorney general, said he won't miss his old job and is looking forward to returning to a position he held once before.
"I did five years in health and went to that area. And then I did three years in justice and now I go back to this area. So I'm kind of pleased," he said.
There had been speculation Chomiak wanted out of the justice portfolio after three years in the high-pressure post.
On Tuesday, he said he was excited to hand over the reigns to Swan and then gave his successor a strong vote of confidence.
"I've always told Andrew, ever since he came into caucus, that he's the next, in my view — he was the next justice minister," Chomiak said. "And we've always worked closely together. He's very bright [with a] tremendous ability to grow.
"So, I think things can only get better."
Swan, whose legal background is in family law, said the inmate population in the province's jails is his biggest challenge. More than two-thirds of people in Manitoba jails are waiting for their cases to be resolved.
Swan wants to find ways to streamline that process to arrive at meaningful resolutions sooner.
He also said that fighting crime is bigger than just his position as attorney general, that it takes all of cabinet tackling various social and mental health issues.
"Crime is on the decline in Manitoba but unfortunately, when there's examples of violent crime, it does capture everybody's attention," Swan said. "And we know that … a big part of making people feel safe is a big part of governing in the province."
Adding cabinet positions wasteful: McFadyen
Tory Opposition Leader Hugh McFadyen was critical of Selinger's cabinet appointments, saying they represent little overall change for Manitobans.
"The fact it took him 17 days to come up with this idea of two deputy premiers, an added cabinet minister [and] nobody leaving cabinet. I mean, this guy makes [former federal Liberal leader] Stéphane Dion look decisive," McFadyen told CBC News.
He also expressed surprise that Manitoba's cabinet would expand while other provincial governments are shrinking theirs.
