Responsible Management and Sound Decisions: Premier Outlines
Reductions to Cabinet and Executive

As part of expenditure reduction measures taken across the Provincial Government through Budget 2013: A Sound Plan, A Secure Future, the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador today announced a planned reduction to her Cabinet and to the number of executive officials in the public service, resulting in annual savings of just over $1.5 million.

“Much work has occurred over the past year across government, through a review of existing programs, services and the core mandates of departments, to ensure we are effective and efficient in providing programs that best serve the people of Newfoundland and Labrador,” said Premier Dunderdale. “This review included Cabinet and senior executive positions. Significant progress has been achieved to reduce the deficit projected earlier this year, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to making responsible decisions that support the long-term fiscal stability of our province.”

As part of restraint measures, Cabinet will be reduced by one member, bringing the total number of ministers to 15. In addition, the review of departments’ core mandates has resulted in a leaner group of executive officials across the public service. Executive officials are Deputy Ministers, Assistant Deputy Ministers, Executive Directors, and their equivalents. Ten senior executive positions will be eliminated, with the total going from 121 to 111.

The size of the Cabinet will be reduced though the restructuring of the Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat, to be effective within this calendar year. The Intergovernmental Affairs Branch will be led by an Assistant Deputy Minister, who will report through the Clerk of the Executive Council. The Premier will take on additional responsibilities as Minister Responsible for Intergovernmental Affairs.

The Aboriginal Affairs Branch will be merged with the Labrador Affairs Office to become the Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Office.

Savings achieved with the reduction of Cabinet and elimination of 10 executive positions are augmented by the suspension of the bonus component of the Deputy Minister and Equivalents Performance Management Program, as well as the recommendation of the Finance Minister, the Honourable Jerome Kennedy, to the House of Assembly Management Commission on February 27 to freeze salaries of Members of the House of Assembly – the recommendation was accepted by the commission.

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2013 03 26             2:50 p.m.