News Release Archive

PREMIER--PREMIER MacLELLAN, NEW CABINET SWORN IN
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Russell MacLellan became Nova Scotia's 24th Premier today, July
18, when he was sworn into office along with a cabinet that
includes five new ministers.

Premier MacLellan has assumed cabinet-level responsibility for
Sable natural gas development and he will be his government's
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Cape Breton South MLA Manning MacDonald moves from the Labour
portfolio to Economic Development and Tourism. Mr. MacDonald, who
served as Sydney's mayor from 1978 until his election to the
legislature in 1993, will also chair cabinet's Priorities and
Planning Committee and will retain responsibility for Sydney
Steel.

The new members of the Executive Council are Ed Lorraine,
Minister of Agriculture and Marketing and Minister responsible
for the Nova Scotia Gaming and Liquor Control Commission; Kenneth
MacAskill, Minister of Natural Resources; Francene Cosman,
Minister of Community Services and Minister responsible for the
Advisory Council on the Status of Women; Bruce Holland, Minister
of Technology and Science and Minister responsible for the Sport
and Recreation Commission; and Wayne Gaudet, Speaker during the
last session of the legislature, has returned to cabinet as
Minister of Business and Consumer Services.

Ministers moving to new portfolios include Gerald O'Malley who is
going to Labour from Technology and Science, and former
agriculture minister Guy Brown, who takes over Housing and
Municipal Affairs. Allister Surette gives up Housing and
Municipal Affairs but retains the Human Resources portfolio.     

Bill Gillis, who has represented the people of Antigonish in the
House of Assembly since 1970, remains Minister of Finance and
Deputy Premier. Dr. Gillis is also responsible for the Nova
Scotia Gaming Corp.

Other ministers remaining in the same portfolios are: Health
Minister Jim Smith; Education and Culture Minister Robbie
Harrison; Transportation and Public Works Minister Don Downe;
Justice Minister and Attorney General Alan Mitchell; Environment
Minister Wayne Adams, and Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Jim
Barkhouse.
A registered nurse and businesswoman, Francene Cosman was elected
to the legislature in May 1993 to represent the people of 
Bedford-Fall River. She is a former Halifax County councillor,
was first mayor of Bedford and is a past president of the Nova
Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. She served as
Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly in the last session.

Warden of Colchester County from 1973 to 1981, Ed Lorraine was
first elected to the legislature from Colchester North in 1981.
He was defeated in 1984 but was re-elected in 1988 and 1993. A
farmer, Mr. Lorraine has long been involved in issues concerning
the well-being and survival of the family farm. He is a past
president of the Eastern Livestock Sale Society, director of the
Nova Scotia Beef Producers Association and a member of the
Canadian Cattlemen's Association and the Nova Scotia Federation
of Agriculture. 

Kenneth MacAskill is a lifelong resident of Englishtown first
elected to the legislature in 1988 and re-elected by the people
of Victoria in 1993. He operated a plumbing and heating business
in Englishtown for more than two decades. Mr. MacAskill is
involved in many community and church organizations, including
the Session of the Oliver United Church and the Englishtown
Community Hall Association.

Bruce Holland was elected to the legislature from 
Timberlea-Prospect in 1993. He was a Halifax County councillor
and a member of the Halifax County board of health. He sat on the
Halifax County council executive committee and the Halifax County
policy committee. Mr. Holland is a member of the Royal Canadian
Legion, Branch 153, a former chair of the Credit Union Atlantic
supervisory committee, and past vice-chair of the District 4 fire
protection committee formed by Halifax County council.

Wayne Gaudet was elected to the House of Assembly in 1993 to
represent the people of Clare. He has served as Minister of
Agriculture and Marketing, Minister responsible for Acadian
Affairs and Speaker of the House of Assembly.  Mr. Gaudet is
president of the International Assembly of French
Parliamentarians for the Nova Scotia section and president of the
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Nova Scotia branch.

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Contact: Jim Vibert
         Communications Nova Scotia
         902-424-5243

NOTE TO EDITORS: Brief biographies of all members of the
Executive Council are available from Communications Nova Scotia
at 902-424-4492.  
PREMIER--N.S. MEMBERS OF GOVERNMENT, JULY 18, 1997



HONOURABLE RUSSELL MacLELLAN, QC
    Premier
    President of the Executive Council
    Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
    Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs
    Minister responsible for Sable Offshore Resources

HONOURABLE J. WILLIAM GILLIS
    Deputy Premier
    Deputy President of the Executive Council
    Minister of Finance  
    Minister responsible for the administration of Part I of the  
      Gaming Control Act

HONOURABLE MANNING MacDONALD
    Minister of Economic Development and Tourism
    Chair of the Priorities and Planning Committee
    Minister responsible for Communications Nova Scotia
    Minister responsible for the Innovation Corporation Act
    Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Marketing Agency
    Minister responsible for the Sydney Steel Corporation Act

HONOURABLE JAMES A. SMITH, M.D.
    Minister of Health                                 

HONOURABLE DONALD R. DOWNE
    Minister of Transportation and Public Works

HONOURABLE F. WAYNE ADAMS
    Minister of the Environment
    Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Act
    Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority

HONOURABLE ROBERT S. HARRISON
    Minister of Education and Culture



HONOURABLE GUY A.C. BROWN
    Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs
    Minister in charge of the administration of the Heritage      
   Property Act

HONOURABLE JAMES A. BARKHOUSE
    Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture

HONOURABLE GERALD J. O'MALLEY
    Minister of Labour
    Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Act

HONOURABLE ALLISTER SURETTE
    Minister of Human Resources
    Minister responsible for Acadian Affairs
    Minister responsible for the administration of the Youth 
        Secretariat Act

HONOURABLE ALAN E. MITCHELL
    Attorney General and Minister of Justice
    Minister responsible for the administration of the Human     
Rights Act
    Minister in charge of the Regulations Act

HONOURABLE WAYNE GAUDET            
    Minister of Business and Consumer Services
    Minister in charge of the Residential Tenancies Act     

HONOURABLE EDWARD LORRAINE              
    Minister of Agriculture and Marketing
    Minister responsible for the administration of Part II of the 
   Gaming Control Act
   Minister responsible for the administration of the Liquor    
Control Act

HONOURABLE KENNETH MACASKILL            
    Minister of Natural Resources

HONOURABLE FRANCENE COSMAN              
    Minister of Community Services
    Minister responsible for the administration of the Advisory   
  Council on the Status of  Women Act


    Chair of the Senior Citizens Secretariat
    Minister responsible for the Disabled Persons Commission  Act

HONOURABLE BRUCE HOLLAND           
    Minister responsible for the Technology and Science           
        Secretariat
    Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation
        Commission

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PREMIER--GOVERNMENT WILL BE UNRELENTING ADVOCATE --MacLELLAN
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Pledging a government that is "an unrelenting advocate for Nova
Scotia's rightful advantages and its promising future," Premier
Russell MacLellan took the oath of office today and unveiled a
cabinet he said would be strong, caring and responsive.

In brief remarks after the new government was sworn in, Premier
MacLellan said, in English and in French, that Nova Scotia is a
special place.

"In a world where many call for a separate society or a distinct
society or a controlling society, our community has always
pursued the ideal of a caring society. That is a wonderful and
extraordinary quality that has come to define our way of life. 
And it is this singular, distinguishing community mandate that
your government intends to honour."

Premier MacLellan said that under his leadership, Nova Scotians
will have a government that listens to its people and makes
decisions with them as well as for them.

The premier said the new government is committed to "the
fundamental premises of inclusion," adding that it will discuss
before deciding, consult before acting and be "prepared to take
bold, decisive action to protect the interests of Nova Scotia."

To successfully confront and solve the challenges that face Nova
Scotians, the premier said the province needs a strong government
team. To listen and directly communicate with Nova Scotians, he
said, a caring government team is needed. And to effectively put
into action policies and programs Nova Scotians deserve, a
responsive team is needed.

"Today, I am confident that Nova Scotia has such a team."

Premier MacLellan thanked his cabinet colleagues for "their
unreserved willingness to join me on this mission." He said he is
privileged and honoured that such talented and committed
representatives have agreed to serve under his leadership.

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Contact: Jim Vibert
         Communications Nova Scotia
         902-424-5243

jlw                       July 18, 1997       11 a.m.