'It’s a dream come true': Holt, Liberal cabinet sworn in to office

It was a historic day for Premier Susan Holt and New Brunswick’s Liberal Party.

Holt was officially sworn in as the province’s 35th premier Saturday afternoon.

Holt, the province’s first female premier, and 18 cabinet ministers took the oath of office in the chamber of the legislative assembly.

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

After the roughly 75 minute ceremony lead by Lt.-Gov. Brenda Murphy, Premier Holt spoke to reporters on the steps of the legislature.

Holt was asked why she thought voters overwhelmingly supported her party in last month’s election.

“New Brunswickers want to come together. We are not a divided province. They saw our message of positivity and hope and a really balanced approach to deliver a fiscally responsible government that’s going to improve health care services. We were focused on New Brunswicker’s priorities,” said Holt. 

Susan Holt takes part in a media scrum after the swearing-in ceremony. (CTV/Derek Haggett)

Holt sounded a bit emotional when discussing the significance and excitement of the past 12 days.

“It’s been absolutely incredible. It’s a dream come true to be able to serve the province that I love and people have responded and expressed to us the hope that they’re placing in our team. The hope that they’re feeling for our province and its future,” said Holt. “It has been the best days of my life.’

After speaking to the media, Holt, her family and the other Liberal MLAs made the short walk next door for a reception that began with an Indigenous drum circle.

Susan Holt and her family visit the convention centre after the swearing-in ceremony. (CTV/Derek Haggett)She addressed hundreds of supporters who had watched the swearing-in ceremony on two large screens.

“We are ready to get to work for you. We are going to follow through on the commitments that we made,’ said Holt. “We are going to make your life more affordable. We are going to take 10 per cent off your power bills. We are going to put a rent cap in place.”

Afterwards, Holt mingled with supporters and posed for photos.

Health Minister Dr. John Dornan said it was an exciting day and a moment the party had been working toward for a long time.

“We’ve worked a long, hard campaign and at the end of the day had the responsibility to represent and work for New Brunswickers,” said Dornan. “We will be driven to do things sooner than later.”

Dornan said he’ll be meeting with cabinet and the deputy minister of health to try and figure out the best way to improve the province’s health care system.

“We have a mandate. New Brunswicker’s have told us very clear things that they want sooner than later. They don’t want us to take three or four years to do it,’ said Dornan. “We’ll start looking at that Monday morning.”

Rob McKee, the minister of justice, attorney general, and minister responsible for addictions and mental health services, said it was a significant day.

“We have the first female premier that’s been sworn in the Province of New Brunswick. We’re thrilled for it. We’re thrilled for New Brunswick,” said McKee.

McKee believes the Liberals were successful in the election because the Conservatives ran an “American-style” of politics during the campaign.

“The decisiveness. The way that they’ve alienated groups over the last six years of their mandate. New Brunswicker’s are looking for hope. They’re looking for a government that is going to listen to their concerns and treat them with respect,” said McKee.

It was also a historic day for Francine Landry, who was sworn in as the first woman Francophone speaker of the legislative assembly.

A news release sent by the Liberal Party last week said Saturday’s event was an important milestone for New Brunswickers.

Holt stated in the release the swearing-in was not only for the first woman premier, but also the first woman of colour and Indo-Canadian and the most women elected to the province’s legislature at one time.

Holt and her cabinet will meet on Monday. 

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

For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.