PREMIER--PREMIER MacLELLAN, NEW CABINET SWORN IN ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -30- 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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- PREMIER--GOVERNMENT WILL BE UNRELENTING ADVOCATE --MacLELLAN ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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. -30- Contact: Jim Vibert Communications Nova Scotia 902-424-5243 jlw July 18, 1997 11 a.m.