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

Susan Holt sworn in as N.B.'s first female premier Susan Holt, New Brunswick's first female premier, and 18 cabinet ministers took the oath of office over the weekend.

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.

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.

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:

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