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.
