After serving seven months as Nova Scotia’s energy minister, Premier Tim Houston is handing over the reins to Marco MacLeod. Houston announced a cabinet shuffle on Wednesday, appointing MacLeod, who was the ministerial assistant for energy, to the position. Houston, who recently attended the Offshore Technology Conference in Texas to promote energy opportunities in Nova Scotia, appointed himself energy minister last October, taking over for Trevor Boudreau. “Nova Scotia is becoming an energy superpower, and Marco has played an important role helping me as I seek out new opportunities to grow our domestic energy production and make Nova Scotia more self-reliant,” said Houston in a news release. “I’m pleased that he will continue the critical work developing our natural resources and build upon the successes this spring of our offshore oil and gas bids and the onshore program. “I also look forward to working with Marco to get Wind West across the finish line.” Despite resigning from the energy minister role, Houston said he will be hands-on with the file if needed. “I will continue to be the ambassador for Nova Scotia across all these files and continue to be intimately involved in the energy file,” said Houston. “We’ve got to pursue the opportunities that we have,” said MacLeod. “It’s not okay to sit in an office all day. We’ve actually got to get out there and meet with proponents and meet with all the possibilities, whether it’s for offshore wind or offshore oil and gas. “You got to go chase them down.” As part of the cabinet shuffle, Susan Corkum-Greek (MLA for Lunenburg), will be the minister of opportunities and social development after working as a ministerial assistant in the department. She will take over the role from Barbara Adams, who will still be deputy premier and minister of seniors and long-term care, and military relations. Brian Wong (MLA for Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank) will take over as minister of advanced education from Brendan Maguire, who will stay on as minister of education and early childhood development. Tory Rushton (MLA for Cumberland South) is the new minister of natural resources. Kim Masland will be leaving the role, but staying on as minister of emergency management. Houston will still serve as the minister of intergovernmental affairs and trade. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
