Manitoba Cabinet Shuffle – January 17, 2022
Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson conducted her first cabinet shuffle since her leadership win on October 30. As expected, there was a large number of changes made to reflect the re-set on the PC government. Prior to today’s shuffle, MLA Ron Schuler was removed as Infrastructure Minister in December due to covid policy conflict.
This is the largest shuffle in Manitoba since the PCs took office in 2016 and will be the cabinet heading into the next provincial campaign. There were multiple changes to the ministers as well as structural changes to government departments. Most notable is the creation of a Natural Resources department once again with mining shifting from Agriculture. Also, the Crown Service ministry was eliminated key crown corporations shifting to individual ministers.
Notable personnel changes include:
Cliff Cullen (MLA for Spruce Woods) as Deputy Premier and Minister of Economic Development, Investment and Trade;
Kelvin Goertzen (MLA for Steinbach) as minister of Justice and Attorney General, and minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and government house leader;
Cameron Friesen (MLA for Morden-Winkler) as Minister of Finance and minister responsible for Manitoba Hydro;
Scott Fielding (MLA for Kirkfield Park) as Minister of natural resources and northern development, and minister responsible for the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation (MBLL);
Jeff Wharton (MLA for Red River North) as Minister of Environment, Climate and Parks, and Minister responsible for Efficiency Manitoba;
Reg Helwer (MLA for Brandon West) as Minister of Labour, Consumer Protection and Government Services, minister responsible for the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and minister responsible for the civil service;
Wayne Ewasko (MLA for Lac du Bonnet) as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning;
Derek Johnson (MLA for Interlake-Gimli) as Minister of Agriculture; and
Jon Reyes (MLA for Waverley) as minister of advanced education, skills and immigration.
New additions to cabinet include:
Eileen Clarke (MLA for Agassiz) – Minister of Municipal Relations – Clarke previously held the Indigenous Relations portfolio before resigning from cabinet under former Premier Brian Pallister
Doyle Piwniuk (MLA for Turtle Mountain) - Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – New to cabinet, Piwniuk was first elected in 2014
Scott Johnston (MLA for Assiniboia) – Minister of Seniors and Long Term Care – Previously held the title of Special Envoy For Military Affairs
Andrew Smith – MLA Lagimodiere Minister of Sport, Culture and Heritage, and minister responsible for Travel Manitoba and the Manitoba Centennial Centre Corporation (MCCC).