Following the swearing-in of his new finance minister, Premier Danny Williams is suggesting Newfoundland and Labrador's cabinet could undergo a pre-election makeover.

In a quiet ceremony at Government House late Wednesday afternoon, Tom Marshall was sworn in as finance minister, replacing Loyola Sullivan, who stunned political circles last Friday by retiring from public life.

Danny Williams said the Newfoundland and Labrador cabinet could see more than minor changes heading into October's election.
(CBC)

Williams has asked Fisheries Minister Tom Rideout to serve as acting justice minister while he contemplates other changes in the government.

Williams said in an interview he is pondering other cabinet changes in advance of a general election Oct. 9.

"If we see that a redistribution among our own cabinet right now might be satisfactory to take us to an election, that could happen. But right now all options are open."

Williams said he wanted to fill the finance job immediately, while finding a  permanent justice minister will take longer.

"We have to make sure that anybody that's under consideration, particularly for the justice appointment, is not in any conflict whatsoever, so that's a process we're going through," Williams said.

Williams said not all of his cabinet ministers have confirmed that they will run in the next election. Williams asked his cabinet in November to make their intentions for the future known in early 2007.

Equalization issue still at fore

Meanwhile, Williams said Marshall will pick up where Sullivan left off on lobbying for changes to the federal equalization formula that do not penalize oil-producing provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador.

Marshall said he understands the stakes are high as the federal government reviews its equalization plans.

"Equalization is extremely important. It provides such a high amount of revenue to the province that the premier himself takes the lead on this file and my role is to support him in that, as Minister Sullivan did before me," he said.

Marshall said his priorities include finalizing the next budget, expected in March, and meeting federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in Ottawa.