Premier Greg Selinger (DARRIN BAUMING / CHRISD.CA FILE)
Like a deck of cards, Premier Greg Selinger shuffled his cabinet on Friday, making a number of moves before the start of the fall session.
Promoted to cabinet are MLAs Sharon Blady (Kirkfield Park), Erna Braun (Rossmere) and James Allum (Fort Garry-Riverview). Blady is the new minister of healthy living and seniors, while Braun gets the minister of labour and immigration title. Allum is the new minister of education and advanced learning.
“Despite uncertainty in the global economy, Manitoba has kept building and made so much progress. Unemployment is low, our economy is growing faster than the national average and we’ve built assets that are the envy of others,” Selinger said. “I’ve brought together a team of experienced hands and new ministers who will keep Manitoba strong and moving forward by focusing on the basics.”
Stan Struthers — the former finance minister — is the new minister of municipal government, while Jennifer Howard takes over Struthers’ old portfolio. Theresa Oswald moves from minister of health to minister of jobs and the economy. Erin Selby is the province’s new health minister. Kerri Irvin-Ross now has the role of minister of family services.
Former Education Minister Nancy Allan was dropped from cabinet, as were Jim Rondeau and Christine Melnick.
The opposition Progressive Conservatives called the shuffle “different chairs, same music.”
“Moving incompetent ministers to different portfolios is not progress, just spin,” PC leader Brian Pallister said in a release.
