Executive Council
July 9, 2009Premier Announces
Changes to Cabinet
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:
Minister of Business -
The Honourable Ross Wiseman
Minister of Health and Community Services �
The Honourable Paul Oram
"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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Media contacts:
Biographies
Honourable Ross Wiseman � Member for Trinity North
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.
The Honourable Paul Oram � Member for Terra Nova
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.
2009 07 09 10:05 a.m.