Holt, Liberal cabinet sworn-in to office

Susan Holt and the other female legislation members pose for a photo. (CTV/Derek Haggett)

Susan Holt was officially sworn-in as New Brunswick’s 35th premier Saturday afternoon.

Holt, the province’s first female premier, and 19 cabinet ministers took the oath of office in the chamber of the legislative assembly.

A reception with an Indigenous drum circle was then held next door at the Fredericton Convention Centre.

The Liberals won a majority government in the provincial election on Oct. 21, returning the party to power for the first time since 2018.

A news release sent by the Liberal Party on Friday said the swearing-in ceremony was a first of many for New Brunswick.

“We want New Brunswickers to feel like they are a part of marking this important milestone – the swearing-in of many firsts for our province: first woman premier, first woman of colour and Indo-

Canadian and the most women elected to the New Brunswick Legislature at one time,” said Holt in Friday’s release. 

The full list of executive council members sworn-in on Saturday are:

•   Susan Holt – premier, president of the Executive Council, minister responsible for official languages
•   René Legacy – deputy premier, minister of Finance and Treasury Board, minister responsible for energy, minister responsible for the Right to Information and Protection of Privacy Act
•   Rob McKee – minister of Justice, attorney general, minister responsible for addictions and mental health services
•   Dr. John Dornan – minister of health
•   Claire Johnson – minister of education and early childhood development
•   Keith Chiasson – minister of Indigenous Affairs
•   Cindy Miles – minister of social development, minister responsible for the Economic and Social Inclusion Corporation
•   Chuck Chiasson – minister of transportation and infrastructure
•   Gilles LePage – minister of environment and climate Change, minister responsible for the Regional Development Corporation
•   Aaron Kennedy – minister of local government, minister responsible for Service New Brunswick
•   Isabelle Thériault – minister of tourism, heritage and culture
•   Robert Gauvin – minister of public safety, minister responsible for la Francophonie
•   Alyson Townsend – minister of post-secondary education, training and labour, minister responsible for the Research and Productivity Council, minister responsible for the Regulatory Accountability and Reporting Act
•   John Herron – minister of natural resources
•   Pat Finnigan – minister of agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries
•   Lyne Chantal Boudreau – minister responsible for seniors, minister responsible for women’s equality
•   Jean-Claude D’Amours – minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, minister responsible for immigration, minister responsible for Military Affairs
•   David Hickey – minister responsible for the New Brunswick Housing Corporation
•   Luke Randall – minister responsible for Opportunities NB, minister responsible for economic development and small business, minister responsible for NB Liquor and Cannabis NB

More to come…

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