Premier Kathy Dunderdale has significantly shuffled the deck.
In a move that's been anticipated for more than a month, Dunderdale made major changes to her cabinet this afternoon.
The move comes as the goverent tries to reset after a rocky first year following the October, 2011 general election.
The biggest changes were to the portfolios of Justice, Environment, Transportation and Tourism.
Felix Collins, who was the justice minister responsible for the damaging Bill 29 debate on access to information, was moved to the low profile Intergovernmental Affairs portfolio.
Darin King will take on the justice department, along with the role of Government House Leader.
Terry French returns to the department of Tourism, and Derrick Dalley becomes the minister of fisheries.
With the government gearing up for a special debate on Muskrat Falls, the high profile Natural Resources portfolio was not touched; minister Jerome Kennedy will still be the lead on the Muskrat Falls file.
The list of cabinet appointments is as follows:
• Tom Marshall is appointed Attorney General in addition to his existing responsibilities as minister of finance, president of treasury board, minister responsible for the Human Resource Secretariat, minister responsible for the Public Service Commission and minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corp.
• Tom Hedderson is appointed minister of environment and conservation, minister responsible for the Multi-materials Stewardship Board and minister responsible for the Office of Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Emissions Trading.
• Darin King is appointed as minister of justice, Government House leader and minister responsible for the Labour Relations Agency.
• Felix Collins is appointed minister for intergovernmental affairs and Aboriginal affairs.
• Terry French is appointed minister of tourism, culture and recreation.
• Derrick Dalley is appointed minister of fisheries and aquaculture.
• Keith Hutchings is appointed minister responsible for the Office of Public Engagement and deputy House leader, in addition to his existing duties as minister of innovation, business and rural development and minister responsible for the Research Development Corp.
• Paul Davis is appointed as minister of transportation and works and minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corp.
• Nick McGrath is appointed as minister of Service NL, minister responsible for the Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission, minister responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer and minister responsible for the Government Purchasing Agency, in addition to his existing responsibilities as minister responsible for Labrador Affairs.
The premier also announced the establishment of a new Office of Public Engagement within Executive Council, which will include the Rural Secretariat, the Voluntary and Non-Profit Secretariat, the Youth Engagement office, the Strategic Partnership Initiative, and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Office.
Dunderdale said the new mandate of this office will ensure every department can launch effective, targeted and interactive public consultations, i"including social media and rich information resources.
For full story, see Saturday's Telegram.
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Earlier story
A provincial cabinet shuffle will be taking place this afternoon, according to a news release from Premier Kathy Dunderdale's office.
A swearing-in ceremony for cabinet ministers will begin 2:30 p.m. today at Government House in St. John's.
The Telegram will be there to provide a further update this afternoon.
Disappointing all around. The only good news here is that maybe the existing backbenchers will see the handwriting on the wall and follow Tom Osbourne's lead. Maybe then, we'll have a chance for an election. Then to top it off, she adds another level to an already bloated bureaucracy. The "Office of Public Engagement" is now going to "streamline" the other useless secretariats which she's created. Give me a break!