Premier Blaine Higgs participates in the swearing-in ceremony for the new Progressive Conservative cabinet in Fredericton on Tuesday. (Government of New Brunswick)
Six women are included in the Progressive Conservative government’s 16-member cabinet.
Saint John Lancaster MLA Dorothy Shephard is the new minister of health after serving during the last term as Social Development Minister.
Premier Blaine Higgs showed confidence in first-time MLA Arlene Dunn, naming her the Aboriginal Affairs minister. Dunn represents Saint John Harbour.
Another rookie politician, Tammy Scott-Wallace, will be responsible for Tourism, Heritage and Culture and Women’s Equality.
Newly-elected Moncton East MLA Daniel Allain is the new Minister for Local Government and Local Governance Reform.
Daniel Allain was sworn-in as Minister of Local Government and Local Governance Reform. pic.twitter.com/uqdATuZQHR
— Government of NB (@Gov_NB) September 29, 2020
Hampton MLA Gary Crossman is a new cabinet minister. He was named the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation.
Dominic Cardy remains in education while Portland-Simonds MLA Trevor Holder stays in Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour.
Riverview MLA Bruce Fitch is the new minister for social development.
Long-serving MLA Ted Flemming returns to familiar territory as Justice Minister and Attorney General.
Cabinet ministers Andrea Anderson-Mason, Jake Stewart, Bill Oliver, Ross Wetmore, Jeff Carr and Sherry Wilson are not included in this new Higgs cabinet.
Speaking at the ceremony in Fredericton on Tuesday, Premier Blaine Higgs said public service is a privilege “like no other” and he thanked the people who agreed to serve.
“I also want to highlight that this legislature marks a new milestone for female representation with the most ever women elected and most ever women as members of a cabinet of the New Brunswick government,” Higgs said.
Higgs referenced the recent passing of New Brunswick’s Brenda Robertson, the first female provincial MLA who was first elected in 1967 and served as a cabinet minister in the Richard Hatfield years.
“As we gather today and think of the work that lays ahead, we can all be inspired by her legacy of service,” Higgs said.
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