In keeping with his commitment to renew government on a regular basis, Premier Robert Ghiz announced a series of Cabinet changes today.
“I am very fortunate to have a strong team – and this renewal of Cabinet responsibilities will greatly assist government in pursuit of its plan to improve services for all Islanders,” the Premier said.
The changes go beyond the movement of Ministers, the Premier said.
“We are also re-aligning departments to better reflect government’s priorities over the next couple of years,” the Premier said.
As Lieutenant Governor Honourable Barbara Hagerman is out of province and could not return on short notice, Justice John A. McQuaid conducted the swearing-in ceremony at Government House as the Administrator.
The new Cabinet:
∙ Premier Robert Ghiz will also be Minister Responsible for Acadian and Francophone Affairs
∙ Hon. George Webster to act as Deputy Premier in addition to his role as Minister of Agriculture
∙ Hon. Wes Sheridan as Minister of Finance and Municipal Affairs
∙ Hon. Carolyn Bertram as Minister of Health and Wellness (including Aboriginal Affairs)
∙ Hon. Doug Currie as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and Attorney General
∙ Hon. Ron MacKinley as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
∙ Hon. Janice Sherry as Minister of Community Services, Seniors and Labour (including Status of Women)
∙ Hon. Robert Vessey as Minister of Tourism and Culture
Environment, Energy and Forestry Minister Richard Brown; Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister Neil LeClair; and Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allan Campbell retain their existing portfolios with the following exceptions:
∙ Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development Minister LeClair is now responsible for the Island Community Fund
∙ Authority for the Liquor Control Commission moves from Innovation and Advanced Learning to Tourism and Culture
Further, administrative and inspection responsibilities for the former Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour have been moved to the Department of Finance and Municipal Affairs, the Department of Tourism and Culture, the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure, the Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, and the Department of Health and Wellness.
“I especially want to thank Valerie Docherty and Gerard Greenan for the valued service in Cabinet for the last two-and-a-half years.
“In particular, I want to note Mr. Greenan’s tireless efforts to bring the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to the City of Summerside and his pursuit of innovative new programs, like the introduction of full-day kindergarten into the public school system. Ms. Docherty’s efforts to modernize our province’s tourism product will bring benefits to Prince Edward Island for years to come. They have both done excellent work, and will continue to serve both their constituents and the province well in the years ahead.”
In other changes, Evangeline-Miscouche MLA Sonny Gallant becomes Government House Leader and Tracadie-Hillsborough Park MLA Francis ‘Buck’ Watts becomes Government Whip.
BACKGROUNDER
1) Premier and President, Executive Council
The role of the Premier, the Premier’s Office and Executive Council/Intergovernmental Affairs will remain relatively unchanged with one major exception – the Premier will now be Minister responsible for Acadian and Francophone Affairs.
2) Finance and Municipal Affairs
As a central agency, this Department will provide financial leadership across all of Government.
Additionally, through the newly created Municipal and Land Use Planning Secretariat, the Department will coordinate municipal and land use planning functions including responsibility for Government follow up and response to the Commissioners Report on Local Governance and Land Use Planning.
3) Health and Wellness
This Department will be responsible for policy, program and operational leadership respecting the Island health care system.
The Department will develop Health care related policy priorities, and provide leadership in all matters related to public health and health promotion. In addition, the Department will be responsible for providing horizontal leadership and coordination in the implementation of Government’s Healthy Living Strategy.
Through the newly created Health PEI, the Department will oversee all health care related operational matters including responsibility for the Provincial Drug and Dental Services program (from the former Social Services and Seniors Department).
The new Department will also assume responsibility for Recreation and Sport (from the former Department of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour).
Finally, the Department will be responsible for Aboriginal Affairs.
4) Community Services, Seniors and Labour
As one of Government’s largest and most complex areas of responsibility, the Department will now have the benefit of a full-time dedicated Minister. Under this reorganization, the former Social Services and Seniors is transformed and rebranded as a newly created Department.
Maintaining a Departmental focus on Labour matters remains a priority of this Administration. To this end, and in keeping with balancing Ministerial workloads, Labour related policy, programs and services will be integrated into this Department.
Through the leadership of its Minister, a priority will be to frame and develop a new, cross-departmental Social Prosperity Framework over the coming year.
In keeping with numerous other provincial jurisdictions, the Department will now be “Community Services” instead of the former “Social Services” designation.
Finally, in keeping with the Department’s focus on key constituency groups within the community, the Department will also be responsible for horizontal leadership and matters related to the Interministerial Women’s Secretariat and the Advisory Council on the Status of Women.
5) Tourism and Culture
In many Provinces, Governments organize and recognize the benefits that can be gained from aligning the functions of Tourism promotion and development with cultural promotion and development. As Government continues to focus more on cultural development, this new alignment can benefit each of the respective sectors.
In addition, through the leadership of the Minister and its Deputy, this Department will assume horizontal leadership in the development and planning of the 150th anniversary of the historic meeting of the Fathers of Confederation.
Finally, the Minister of Tourism and Culture will assume responsibility for the PEI Liquor Control Commission.
6) Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
Government, directly and in partnership with federal and municipal Governments, has embarked upon an historic capital program designed to renew and replace aging infrastructure across our One Island Community.
This newly established Department will provide expanded leadership across all Departments to ensure the comprehensive Build PEI is effectively planned and implemented.
Government currently has a broad range of infrastructure renewal-based programs that are either Federal-Provincial in nature, or directly managed and financed by Government. The planning and implementation for these programs, regardless of origin, requires cohesion and expertise from a professional skill set perspective. This new Department will be responsible for all of these programs, with the exception of the Island Community Fund which will be transferred to Fisheries, Aquaculture and Rural Development (to provide greater program support for the Province’s Rural Action Plan).
Renewing the Provinces aging infrastructure was, is and will continue to be, a significant priority of this Administration.
7) Office of Attorney General and Public Safety
As a central agency, this Office will be expanded to provide Government with more comprehensive legal services, and a greater focus on integrated Public Safety leadership (including the development of Business Continuity Plans).
Public Safety of Islanders is a priority of this Government. As situations and circumstances unfold, Government must be able to respond in a seamless, proactive manner. Within the former Office of Attorney General, there are many services, duties and accountabilities that fall within the public safety sphere. Equally, the Office of Public Safety plays a major leadership and service delivery role in support of this essential service.
The Deputy Attorney General will assume the role as Chair, Public Safety for the Deputy Ministers Council and work closely with all Departments (particularly Health and Wellness) to ensure Government remains prepared in these important matters.
8) Changes to Senior Management
Ms. Tracey Cutcliffe, the former Deputy Minister of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour will assume the post of Deputy Minister, Health and Wellness.
Mr. Keith Dewar, the former Deputy Minister of Health will assume the post of Interim Chief Executive Officer, Health PEI. He will lead the transition in creating a new Island-wide Health authority while providing leadership for all operational matters during this transition.