ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - Newfoundland and Labrador's health minister abruptly quit politics Wednesday -- the second cabinet minister in as many weeks to resign from the government of Premier Danny Williams.
Paul Oram, who was appointed to the position three months ago, said high blood pressure and unfair media coverage during his brief tenure led to his decision.
"People need to remember -- and media needs to remember this -- that it's all right for you to tear the strip off a member or minister because that's what we go into this racket realizing," Oram told reporters.
"But my little girl is home sitting down listening to the radio or watching the television and responsible reporting is something that needs to be looked at."
When the former business minister was promoted to the job in July, he was tasked with the responsibility of leading the province's response to a pandemic while trying to restore public confidence after the province's breast cancer testing scandal.
Earlier this year, a public inquiry concluded that a failure of accountability and oversight "at all levels" within the system led to mistakes on breast cancer tests for at least 386 patients.
On Wednesday, Oram commented on the toll the workload had taken.
"There's no end to the stress and strain. There's no end to the hours that you put into the department," he said.
Within weeks of his appointment, Oram found himself at the centre of controversy.
His refusal to accept briefing notes to get acquainted with the job stoked criticism from pundits and opposition politicians who accused the government of attempting to avoid public scrutiny.
But Oram defended his decision, saying he could retain information better through verbal briefings.
He also came under fire after X-ray and lab services were cut in two rural towns of the province. He later relented on the decision to cut services in one of those towns.
Oram's resignation came about two weeks after Trevor Taylor, the then transportation minister, announced he was stepping down from politics, citing personal reasons and a new job.
But Oram dismissed questions about whether his resignation reflected a wider problem within Williams's government.
"There's no problem with anyone in the cabinet, there's no problem with the premier," he said.
Oram, a former funeral director, was first elected for the Tories in 2003 in the rural district of Terra Nova.
In a cabinet shuffle late in the day, Williams named Jerome Kennedy as Oram's replacement. He also takes over Oram's community services portfolio.
In other moves, Tom Marshall was named finance minister and president of the Treasury Board and minister responsible for the Public Service Secretariat and chief information officer. This marks the second time Marshall will take over finance.
Felix Collins joined cabinet as justice minister and attorney general.
Municipal Affairs Minister Dianne Whalen will also serve as acting transportation and works minister.
The cabinet shuffle is Williams's fourth in a year.
