Premier Tim Houston has announced more key appointments as his government settles into its second mandate. An order-in-council dated last Thursday, the same day Houston's new cabinet was sworn in, shows that Environment Minister Tim Halman will chair the Treasury and Policy Board, the powerful committee that sets spending plans and policies for government operations. Joining Halman in the group is Seniors and Long-term Care Minister Barb Adams, Finance Minister John Lohr, Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Kent Smith, Public Works Minister Fred Tilley and Social Development Minister Scott Armstrong.
For Tilley, the announcement comes as another win following his decision just before the provincial election call in October to cross the floor from the Liberals to join the Progressive Conservatives. At the time, Tilley was open about his desire to join cabinet and help shape provincial budgets. Nova Scotia's new 21-member cabinet sworn in at Halifax ceremony Reporters blocked from swearing-in ceremony for new Nova Scotia cabinet Meanwhile, Houston announced Monday that newly minted Education Minister Brendan Maguire will be the new PC government House leader in the legislature.
It's the job of the government House leader to shepherd bills through the legislature and to try to work with the opposition party House leaders to ensure the law-making process proceeds in an orderly fashion. This proved a difficult task at times during the Tories' first.
