N.S. Premier Tim Houston reveals new cabinet, department names

Premier Tim Houston revealed the new cabinet and department names for the Nova Scotia government at a swearing-in ceremony on Thursday.

Houston, who swept back into power with a 43-seat supermajority in the provincial election last month, unveiled the 21-member cabinet. His previous cabinet had 17 members prior to the election.

The cabinet reveal was accompanied by several name changes to departments. The Department of Economic Development is now the Department of Growth and Development. It will also include Housing.

The Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Efficiency is now simply Service Efficiency. The Department of Community Services is now the Department of Opportunities and Social Development.

Houston shuffled the cabinet and reassigned multiple roles. Timothy Halman, who was appointed deputy premier last October, is now the minister of Service Efficiency. He will also remain as minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Barbara Adams is now the deputy premier and deputy president of the executive council. She will continue as minister of Seniors and Long-term Care and as the minister responsible for Military Relations.

Barbara Adams is now the Nova Scotia deputy premier and deputy president of the executive council. (Source: Nova Scotia Legislature)

Fred Tilley, who crossed the aisle from the Liberals to the Progressive Conservatives prior to the election, will lead the Department of Public Works, taking over the position from Kim Masland, who will serve as minister of the Department of Emergency Management.

Other cabinet positions include:

• Tim Houston is president of the executive council, minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, minister of Priorities and Planning and minister of Trade
• John Lohr is minister of Finance, minister of Labour Relations and minister of Municipal Affairs
• Tory Rushton is minister of Natural Resources
• Colton LeBlanc is minister of Growth and Development and minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie
• Brian Comer is minister of Addictions and Mental Health
• Michelle Thompson is minister of Health and Wellness, minister of the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment and minister responsible for Healthcare Redevelopment
• Jill Balser is lead for Service Nova Scotia and Cyber Security and Digital Solutions
• Greg Morrow is minister of Agriculture
• Becky Druhan is the new Attorney General, minister of Justice, provincial secretary and minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism
• Kent Smith is minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Trevor Boudreau is minister of the new Department of Energy
• Twila Grosse is minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and minister of the Public Service Commission
• Brendan Maguire is minister of Advanced Education and minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
• David Ritcey is minister of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, along with Gaelic Affairs
• Nolan Young is minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration
• Scott Armstrong is minister of Opportunities and Social Development
• Leah Martin is the minister of Communications Nova Scotia, minister of L’nu Affairs, minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act and minister responsible for Youth 

The 65th General Assembly of Nova Scotia was sworn-in at the Province House on Tuesday. The NDP brought in nine MLAs while the Liberals had two.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.