Premier Pat Binns confirmed today changes to the Cabinet Committee structure. The new Committee design is intended to allow Government to plan for the future, coordinate efforts more fully, and continue to deliver on its commitments to Islanders. "This is really a continuation of the decentralized process we undertook during our first mandate," said Premier Binns.
The Strategic Planning Committee will be divided into two areas of focus: Economic Policy and Community & Social Policy. A new Agenda and Priorities Committee will be established and will be responsible for setting the policy and legislative agenda for the Province. The roles of Treasury Board and Legislative Review Committee remain unchanged.
The Premier also announced new membership on all the Cabinet Committees. Membership of the Agenda and Priorities Committee will include: Premier Pat Binns (Chair), Honourable Pat Mella, Honourable Mike Currie, Honourable Mitch Murphy, Elmer MacFadyen, Chester Gillan, and Cletus Dunn.
Membership of Treasury Board will include: Honourable Pat Mella, Honourable Mike Currie, Honourable Kevin MacAdam, Honourable Don MacKinnon, and Wes MacAleer and Helen MacDonald upon amendment to the Executive Council Act to allow non-Ministerial Members to hold membership on Treasury Board. Honourable Mitch Murphy will serve until such time.
The Legislative Review Committee will include: Elmer MacFadyen (Chair), Honourable Jeffrey Lantz (Vice-Chair), Bobby MacMillan, Eric Hammill, and Eva Rodgerson.
The Strategic Planning Committee on Economic Policy will be made up of: Chester Gillan(Chair), Honourable Mitch Murphy (Vice-Chair), Honourable Greg Deighan, Wilfred Arsenault, Philip Brown, and Jim Bagnall.
The Strategic Planning Committee on Community and Social Policy will consist of: Cletus Dunn (Chair), Honourable Jamie Ballem (Vice-Chair), Honourable Gail Shea, Beth MacKenzie, Norman MacPhee, and Wilbur MacDonald.
The Binns Government will introduce amendments to the Executive Council Act during the Fall sitting of the Legislature. The amendments to the Act will allow the membership of Treasury Board to include members who are not members of Cabinet.
"When we were first elected in 1996, and for the second time this past April, we made a pledge to Islanders that all Members of Caucus would be involved in government's decision making process--these changes reflect that continued commitment," stated the Premier. "Having the input of the whole Caucus in making decisions ensures that authority is not concentrated and a number of perspectives are considered."