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Familiar faces returned to old and new places as Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston shuffled his cabinet Wednesday, adding four new members.
Susan Corkum-Greek and Brian Wong both rejoined cabinet after not making the cut following the 2024 provincial election.
Wong returns to the advanced education portfolio, while Corkum-Greek takes on social development. The Lunenburg MLA told reporters that she’d been working with Barbara Adams, the now former minister, in recent months and she finds the portfolio “inspiring.”
“Arguably some of the heaviest responsibility in government, but a very dedicated team that I’m looking forward to working with.”
Tory Rushton returns to cabinet with the natural resources portfolio, a file he held from 2021 when Houston’s team first formed government until last October, when he was shuffled out.
New energy minister
Marco MacLeod is the newcomer to the group, getting a promotion from ministerial assistant to energy minister. The Pictou West MLA told reporters his priorities include modernizing the power grid and pursuing development opportunities that can help the economy.
“My job is to make sure that future generations don’t have to go to Western Canada for work, that they can work here at home.”
MacLeod takes over the file from Houston, who made himself energy minister last October in a bid to underscore the portfolio’s importance for his government.
Houston told reporters that he believes those efforts are paying off, with business interest in onshore natural gas, a fledgling offshore wind sector and potential offshore oil development, and the time was right to hand off the file.
“Marco has done an incredible job as ministerial assistant. He really understands the file, so I’m really pleased. It’s time for him now.”
Houston said he’d continue to be the “ambassador for Nova Scotia on growing the economy” and would travel whenever it’s deemed necessary to help his cabinet colleagues.
“I think in the world we’re in, it still matters when the premier is there. I can see that around the province and around the world, as well.”
Affordability remains a concern, says opposition
Opposition leaders welcomed Houston’s decision to appoint a dedicated energy minister, but they also speculated something else was at play with Wednesday’s shuffle.
NDP Leader Claudia Chender told reporters that during Houston’s time as energy minister, people have continued to struggle with the cost of living, including rising power rates.
“The inability to rein in Nova Scotia Power has been a hallmark of his time as energy minister,” she said.
Chender said adding four more ministers to cabinet is not what is required to address the cost of living.
“That takes a concerned effort and political will and that’s political will we haven’t seen.”
Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said in a statement that moving around cabinet ministers doesn’t change the daily realities people are facing.
“At a time when the province is running a massive deficit, expanding the size of cabinet is not what Nova Scotians need. Families are worried about affordability, access to health care and rising power bills.”
Houston calls shuffle a ‘continuation’
Unlike Houston’s last cabinet shuffle, Wednesday’s did not result in anyone leaving the fold.
Adams, who was at social development, remains deputy premier and minister of seniors and long-term care.
Brendan Maguire gives up advanced education but retains education and early childhood development.
And Kim Masland, who picked up natural resources in the last cabinet shuffle, remains minister of emergency management.
Houston said he doesn’t see Wednesday’s changes as a reset for his government as much as a “continuation.” He said it makes sense for the affected portfolios to each have dedicated ministers.
“And the people coming into cabinet today, returning to cabinet — they’re ready; they’re good and they’ll get stuff done.”
Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony at the legislature also marked a return to access for reporters. Houston’s team did not allow reporters to be present at the swearing-in following the 2024 provincial election.
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