The Honourable Danny Williams, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, today announced changes to his Cabinet. The new Cabinet Ministers were sworn in today at a ceremony at Government House in St. John�s.

Appointed to Cabinet were:

"I would like to welcome these ministers to their new portfolios and wish them well as they take on these new challenges," said Premier Williams. "I want to thank both Ministers Wiseman and Oram for their outstanding work in their previous departments and I look forward to their continued contributions individually as ministers and collectively around the Cabinet table."

Appointments are effective immediately. See attached backgrounder for additional details.

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Ross Wiseman, MHA for Trinity North, was first elected in a by-election on April 25th, 2000.

Prior to entering political life, he had a successful 15 year career in health administration with the Peninsulas Health Care Corporation and the former Clarenville Area Hospital Board.

He has extensive experience in the financial services industry, having held several branch and regional management positions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

Mr. Wiseman has demonstrated a strong volunteer commitment to his community. He is a member of the Clarenville Area Chamber of Commerce. Prior to his election, he was chairperson for Bonavista-Trinity-Placentia Integrated and Vista School Board, as well, he was an executive member and a coach in the Clarenville area minor hockey system and was involved as a leader in the scouting movement.

While a Member of the House of Assembly, Mr. Wiseman served as the deputy chair of the Public Accounts Committee. He was also appointed in April 2001 to chair the House of Assembly Select Committee to inquire into Bill 9: entitled An Act to Provide for the Recovery of Tobacco Related Health Care Costs. In 2005, he also chaired the public consultations on the smoking ban in bars and bingo halls resulting in a new Act entitled the Smoke Free Environment Act (2005).

On September 26, 2001, he was appointed the Opposition critic for Health and Community Services. Following his victory in the general election in the district of Trinity North on October 21, 2003, he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Community Services.

Mr. Wiseman chaired the Provincial Advisory Council on Aging and Seniors and in that capacity chaired the public consultations on healthy aging, a process to assist Government in developing a Provincial Healthy Aging Plan.

On January 19, 2007, he was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services.

On October 9, 2007, Ross was reelected to the House of Assembly, and was appointed Minister of Health and Community Services on October 30.

Mr. Wiseman is committed to being accessible to the residents of Trinity North. Along with his wife Sandra, he continues to reside in the district of Trinity North.

Paul Oram was born in Gander and was raised in Glovertown, where he attended Glovertown Academy. After graduation he enrolled in college and was later awarded a diploma in Business Management.

In 1985, Mr. Oram married and moved to St. John's, where he joined the marketing branch of a medical company. One year afterwards, with a desire to own and operate his own business, Mr. Oram returned home to Glovertown where he started a construction company.

In 1994 Mr. Oram received his Funeral Director's licence and in 1996 purchased his first funeral home. Since that time, the business interests of Mr. Oram and his wife Karen have grown, acquiring an additional funeral home, personal care home facilities, and a travel agency.

Aside from his businesses, Mr. Oram has also been active as a volunteer. He has held various positions such as church appointments, school councillor, trustee with the Central Health Board, as well as Deputy Mayor of Glovertown.

Mr. Oram was elected to the House of Assembly as MHA for the Terra Nova District on October 21, 2003. Since being elected he spearheaded the establishment of the Red Tape Reduction Committee, and served as the committee Chair. He also served as Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier.

On October 9, 2007, he was reelected to the House of Assembly and on October 30 he was appointed Minister of Business.