Premier Greg Selinger's cabinet underwent a big shakeup Friday. The minister responsible for raising the PST has been shuffled to a new portfolio. Stan Struthers is now minister of municipal government and hydro. “Minister Struthers has played a very strong role at a very difficult time of recession, major flooding in Manitoba. He took a balanced approach,” said Selinger. Jennifer Howard takes over as finance minister. Struthers fronted the unpopular decision to raise the PST to eight per cent in the summer. "It's never easy to introduce a tax. I get that. I think we all understand that but it was necessary to do so,” he said. Manitoba’s PC party said moving Struthers out of finance was akin to firing him. Liberal leader Jon Gerrard said Struthers clearly got moved out of finance due to the PST hike fallout. Gerrard pointed towards the province bypassing a mandatory referendum needed to raise sales taxes. "They didn't do it and it was a major problem for the government and poor handling. That's why he was changed, I believe,” said Gerrard. Prior to becoming the new finance minister, Jennifer Howard has managed a number of portfolios, including serving as minister of family services and labour and minister responsible for the status of women and persons with disabilities. Manitoba also has a new health minister through the cabinet shuffle. Erin Selby replaces Theresa Oswald. Oswald becomes the minister of jobs and the economy. Oswald said she wanted a change after seven years with the health portfolio. “I was interested in a change and growing and learning in new ways,” said Oswald. Jim Rondeau, Christine Melnick, and Nancy Allan are out of the cabinet. MLAs Sharon Blady, Erna Braun and James Allum are the new appointees. Kerri Irvin-Ross steps into the role of minister of family services. “It was important for us to reset the whole team,” said Selinger. "We see a lot of economic uncertainty out there. We see the requirement to protect communities from floods so we are going to have that focus on jobs and the economy,” said Selinger. - with a report from Jeff Keele _____________________________________________________________ Full list of Manitoba Executive Council (source: Province of Manitoba) Greg Selinger, Premier of Manitoba, minister of federal-provincial relations, minister responsible for the skills strategy, minister responsible for francophone affairs Steve Ashton, minister of infrastructure and transportation, minister responsible for emergency measures Dave Chomiak, minister of mineral resources, minister charged with the administration of the Gaming Control Act Gord Mackintosh, minister of conservation and water stewardship Eric Robinson, minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs, minister charged with the administration of the Community Economic Development Fund Act Ron Lemieux, minister of tourism, culture, sport and consumer protection, minister charged with the administration of the Liquor Control Act, minister charged with the administration of the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation Act Stan Struthers, minister of municipal government, minister charged with administration of the Manitoba Hydro Act Peter Bjornson, minister of housing and community development Theresa Oswald, minister of jobs and the economy Kerri Irvin-Ross, minister of family services, minister responsible for the status of women Andrew Swan, minister of justice and attorney general, minister charged with administration of the Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation Act , government house leader Jennifer Howard, minister of finance, chair of Treasury Board, minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission, minister responsible for persons with disabilities Flor Marcelino, minister of multiculturalism and literacy Erin Selby, minister of health Kevin Chief, minister responsible for the City of Winnipeg, minister responsible for children and youth opportunities Ron Kostyshyn, minister of agriculture, food and rural development Sharon Blady, minister of healthy living and seniors Erna Braun, minister of labour and immigration James Allum, minister of education and advanced learning MANITOBA DEPUTY MINISTERS Harvey Bostrom, deputy minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs Joy Cramer, deputy minister of family services Grant Doak, deputy minister of conservation and water stewardship Hugh Eliasson, deputy minister of jobs and the economy, deputy minister of mineral resources Gerald Farthing, deputy minister of education and advanced learning Dori Gingera-Beauchemin, deputy minister of agriculture, food and rural development Terry Goertzen, deputy minister of tourism, culture, sport and consumer protection Karen Herd, deputy minister of health, deputy minister of healthy living and seniors Jim Hrichishen, deputy minister of finance Doug McNeil, deputy minister of infrastructure and transportation Fred Meier, deputy minister of municipal government, deputy minister for the City of Winnipeg Donna Miller, deputy minister of justice and attorney general Jeff Parr, deputy minister of housing and community development, deputy minister of labour and immigration Jan Sanderson, deputy minister of children and youth opportunities Cindy Stevens, deputy minister of multiculturalism and literacy
