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NLIS 1
February 13, 2001
(Executive Council)

New Cabinet sworn in

The new Cabinet headed by Premier Roger Grimes was sworn in today at Government House.

Premier Grimes signaled that he intends to put in place an aggressive action agenda focusing on the key areas needed to bring about change in the province.

"I intend to act quickly to strengthen the focus on key areas of both our social and economic agendas with the goal of bringing about significant change," the Premier said. "The new structure of Cabinet and of government departments clearly represents the direction my Government will take. These changes result from input I have received over the last few months and my intention is to continue to listen to the people of this province as we move forward."

"We have a new, well-focused agenda and a strong team to move it forward," Mr. Grimes said.

"We have considerable depth of experience gained within the Cabinet, as well as several new ministers who bring with them new ideas and approaches."

Beaton Tulk will take on the role of minister of the new economic department of Industry, Trade and Rural Development. He will also serve as Deputy Premier. The new economic department he will head combines the mandates of the former departments of Development and Rural Renewal and Industry, Trade and Technology.

"Mr. Tulk has taken a strong role in the economic development of the province over the last several years, both as Minister of Development and Rural Renewal and, most recently, as Premier," he said. "He led the government�s province-wide consultation process on Jobs and Growth and will very shortly be bringing forward further recommendations and actions resulting from this initiative. In fact, the formation of this new economic department is a result of what we heard during our consultation sessions."

Sandra Kelly will be minister responsible for the new Department of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education. This department will focus specifically on developing the potential of the province�s youth and provide an avenue for their concerns to be heard within government. Its mandate will include responsibility for the post-secondary education system.

Ernest McLean will lead the new Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs. The creation of this new department, with headquarters in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, reflects a strengthened commitment by government in dealing with the issues and concerns of Labradorians and Aboriginal peoples.

Recognizing the growing importance of environmental issues, Government has moved to create a separate department of Environment. The department will now be able to concentrate more fully on environmental stewardship and regulation. Ralph Wiseman has been appointed Minister of Environment.

With the creation of a new department of Labour, Government is signaling that it intends to renew its relationship with labour, business and community groups with a view to improving partnerships and evolving new approaches to labour-management relations in the province. Anna Thistle has been appointed Minister of Labour.

The new members of Cabinet are: Percy Barrett (Works, Services and Transportation); Gerry Reid (Fisheries and Aquaculture); Gerald Smith (Human Resources and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Strategic Social Plan); and Ralph Wiseman (Environment).

Mr. Grimes noted that he is pleased to have a strong group of women in Cabinet playing roles in key portfolios.

Joan Marie Aylward has been appointed as Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board. She is the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Finance in the provincial Cabinet. Other women appointed to Cabinet are: Julie Bettney (Health and Community Services); Judy Foote (Education); Sandra Kelly (Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women); and Anna Thistle (Labour).

Other cabinet assignments are: Kevin Aylward (Tourism, Culture and Recreation); Oliver Langdon (Municipal and Provincial Affairs); Tom Lush (Intergovernmental Affairs and Government House Leader); Lloyd Matthews (Mines and Energy); Walter Noel, (Government Services and Lands); Kelvin Parsons (Justice); and Rick Woodford (Forest Resources and Agrifoods).

Eddie Joyce has been appointed as Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier. Four parliamentary secretaries have been appointed to assist ministers in specific aspects of their portfolios. They are: Wally Andersen (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs - Aboriginal Affairs); Yvonne Jones (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services - Children�s Interests); Jim Walsh (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs - Housing); and George Sweeney (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development - Information and Advanced Technologies).

Premier Grimes said he is committed to operating government in an open and accountable manner. He said he intends to demonstrate this commitment by, among other things, taking steps to establish the position of provincial Ombudsman and making changes to the Freedom of Information Act. He also noted that further steps can be expected over the coming months with regard to the establishment of the position of Child and Youth Advocate.

As Sandra Kelly is on the Team Canada mission to China, she will be sworn in at a later date.

He noted that there will also be changes to the senior public service in keeping with the creation of new departments and realignment of functions and services.

Media contact: Carl Cooper, Office of the Premier, (709) 729-3564

2001 02 13                                                                11:00 a.m.

Backgrounder - Changes to Government Structure


Biographies

 

Cabinet Ministers by Department

Premier - Roger Grimes
Deputy Premier and Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development - Beaton Tulk
Minister of Education - Judy Foote
Minister of Environment - Ralph Wiseman
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture - Gerry Reid
Minister of Forest Resources and Agrifoods - Rick Woodford
Minister of Finance and President of Treasury Board - Joan Marie Aylward
Minister of Government Services and Lands - Walter Noel
Minister of Health and Community Services - Julie Bettney
Minister of Human Resources and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Strategic Social Plan - Gerald Smith
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Government House Leader - Tom Lush
Minister of Justice and Attorney General - Kelvin Parsons
Minister of Labour - Anna Thistle
Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs - Ernest McLean
Minister of Mines and Energy- Lloyd Matthews
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs - Oliver Langdon
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation - Kevin Aylward
Minister of Works, Services and Transportation - Percy Barrett
Minister of Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education and Minister Responsiblefor the Status of Women - Sandra Kelly
Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier -
Eddie Joyce

Parliamentary Secretaries by Department

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs for Aboriginal Affairs - Wally Andersen
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services for Children�s Interests - Yvonne Jones
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs for Housing - Jim Walsh
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Rural Development - Information and Advanced Technologies -
George Sweeney


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