cabinet shuffle

Premier Tim Houston is changing up his inner circle.

In a cabinet shuffle, Wednesday, Houston handed over his portfolio as energy minister and handed it to Marco MacLeod.

Houston says MacLeod played an ‘important role’ find new opportunities to grow our energy production.

“I’m pleased that he will continue the critical work developing our natural resources and build upon the successes this spring of our offshore oil and gas bids and the onshore program,” says Houston in a news release. “I also look forward to working wit Marco get Wind West across the finish line.”

Other portfolios include:

Barb Adams will stay as Deputy Premier, Seniors Minister and Minister of Military Relations

Susan Corkum-Greek will become Minister of Opportunities and Social Development.

Brian Wong will become Minister of Advanced Education after serving as Ministerial Assistant for Service Nova Scotia.

Brendan Maguire will remain as Minister of Education and Childhood Development.

Tory Rushton will be Minister of Natural Resources after serving as Ministerial Assistant for Emergency Management.

Kim Masland will stay as Minister of Emergency Management.

Houston says he congratulates the ministers and their new appointments. A swearing in ceremony is underway at Province House in Halifax.

Opposition questions Houston’s handling of energy file

Claudia Chender says Premier Tim Houston stepping away from the energy portfolio amounts to an acknowledgment that the government has failed to address rising power costs and concerns surrounding Nova Scotia Power.

In a statement released after the shuffle, Chender said Nova Scotians have faced rising electricity bills and worsening affordability during Houston’s time overseeing the file.

“On Tim Houston’s watch, power bills have climbed by $600 a year for the average family,” Chender said. “That’s simply unmanageable for hundreds of thousands of people in our province.”

The NDP says it hopes the appointment of a dedicated energy minister will lead to more action on affordability and accountability surrounding Nova Scotia Power.

Liberals call cabinet shuffle ‘political optics’

Interim Liberal leader Iain Rankin criticized the cabinet shuffle as a distraction from ongoing affordability concerns across the province.

In a statement, Rankin said moving ministers around will not change the challenges Nova Scotians are facing, including rising power bills and healthcare pressures.

“Nova Scotians want action on the issues affecting their daily lives — not political optics,” Rankin said.

Rankin also questioned the decision to expand cabinet while the province continues to run a significant deficit, though he added the Liberals hope the creation of a dedicated energy minister role means the government will place greater focus on electricity costs.