CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Premier Wade MacLauchlan made a major shuffle to his cabinet Wednesday after two of his key ministers decided to step away from executive council.
Allen Roach and Alan McIsaac both announced Wednesday they had decided against running in the next provincial election and, as such, would resign from their cabinet duties.
Both are staying on as MLAs for their districts.
Left with two key portfolios to fill, MacLauchlan used the opportunity to do a full-scale reorganization of his cabinet.
He tapped Heath MacDonald to take on the hefty finance portfolio and moved Summerside-Wilmot MLA Chris Palmer into MacDonald’s former role as economic development and tourism minister. Palmer is joining cabinet for the first time since being elected in 2016.
Veteran MLA Richard Brown is back in cabinet, after being relegated to the backbench last year. Brown has bounced in and out of cabinet multiple times since the Liberals took power in 2007, but he said Wednesday he is a loyal party member who is happy to serve in any role the premier chooses to give him. That role will now be as minister of communities, land and environment.
Other changes to cabinet include: Robert Mitchell will become the new health minister, Robert Henderson was shuffled to minister of agriculture and fisheries and Jordan Brown was named justice minister on top of his existing portfolio of education, early learning and culture.
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MacLauchlan says he felt it was time for a refresh to his cabinet as his administration enters the third of a four-year mandate.
“This is an important point to turn toward the future, to take on new responsibilities and to, of course, continue to work as a team.”
He thanked Roach and McIsaac for their service in cabinet but noted they would remain active as representatives for their districts.
But critics were quick to point out MacLauchlan’s new cabinet now has no representation from eastern P.E.I.
Roach said he would ensure the voices and issues of eastern Islanders are heard loud and clear by government.
“I still have a voice that can travel, believe me.”
McIsaac says he told the premier six months ago he wanted to step down from cabinet but wanted to remain in office to continue to represent his constituents.
MacLauchlan pointed out the two former cabinet ministers might now have a greater ability to work for areas now that they are no longer burdened with a portfolio.
“By stepping away from the cabinet table, you may have more freedom to push certain areas for development and we fully count on Mr. McIsaac and Mr. Roach to be effective members of caucus and on the ground and working their way around and through eastern P.E.I.”
The premier also said he would himself be doing some of that work, which is part of the reason he reduced his own workload by moving the responsibility for justice to Jordan Brown.
“That permits me, as premier, more time to work directly with regions and communities as we pursue a path of development throughout the province.”
Opposition Leader James Aylward said he hoped this cabinet shuffle would see a different approach to governing, making a point to note this shuffle was the seventh in the past three years.
“I would expect that Robert Mitchell will bring new urgency to addressing our mental health crisis. I would also expect that Richard Brown will give fair consideration to our idea of all party cooperation to develop the Water Act regulations and to make the municipal amalgamation debate more democratic,” Aylward said in a statement.
MacLauchlan says his government has been able to achieve much, noting the balanced budget and well-performing economy, and that this is thanks in part to his team of MLAs.
“We recognize that we have further work to do as a government and as a province to capitalize on our momentum and to ensure that as many Islanders as possible share in a common sense of opportunity.”
Cabinet ministers Tina Mundy, Paula Biggar, Pat Murphy and Sonny Gallant remain unchanged in their respective portfolios.
