More-er, faster-er: Changes to the Nova Scotia Executive Council & Machinery of Government (Dec 12, 2024)
On Thursday, December 12, 2024, Tim Houston was sworn in as Nova Scotia’s premier, along with the government’s new cabinet. Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc presided over the ceremony at the Halifax Convention Centre.
Below we've highlighted changes to government departments (including some new and renamed departments), along with new cabinet ministers, returning Ministers with new responsibilities, and departures.
Compiled by Matt Campbell
The newly sworn-in Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Photo: Communications Nova Scotia.
Machinery changes
|
# |
Previous name |
New name |
Notes |
|
1 |
Department of Community Services |
Department of Opportunities and Social Development |
|
|
2 |
Natural Resources and Renewables |
Department of Natural Resources |
NRR will be separated into two Departments |
|
3 |
Natural Resources and Renewables |
Department of Energy |
As above |
|
4 |
Department of Economic Development |
Department of Growth and Development |
Housing will be added to this Department, from Municipal Affairs |
|
5 |
Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Efficiency |
Office of Service Efficiency |
|
Entering Cabinet
|
Name |
Previous role |
New role |
Changes |
|
Fred Tilley |
First elected as Liberal MLA for Northside-Westmount in 2021. On October 22, 2024, he joined the Progressive Conservative Caucus. He was re-elected in 2024. |
Department of Public Works |
New appointment |
|
David Ritcey |
First elected in a by-election in 2020 and was re-elected in 2021 and 2024. |
Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage; Gaelic Affairs |
New appointment |
|
Nolan Young |
First elected in 2021 and was re-elected in 2024. He has been a Deputy Speaker. |
Labour, Skills and Immigration |
New appointment |
|
Scott Armstrong |
First elected in 2024. Mr. Armstrong is a former school principal and served as the Member of Parliament for Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley from 2009 to 2015. |
Opportunities and Social Development |
New appointment. Department renamed from Community Services. |
|
Leah Martin |
First elected in 2024. Ms. Martin has worked as a project coordinator in housing and homelessness for United Way. In 2023, she joined the Premier’s Office as Executive Assistant and earlier this year, joined Environment and Climate Change Minister Tim Halman as Special Advisor. Ms. Martin is the first Indigenous MLA elected in Nova Scotia history. |
Communications Nova Scotia L’nu Affairs Minister responsible for the Advisory Council on the Status of Women Act Minister responsible for Youth |
New appointment. |
Returning to Cabinet with new responsibilities
|
Name |
Previous role |
New role |
Changes |
|
Barbara Adams |
Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister responsible for Military Relations |
Deputy Premier Deputy President of the Executive Council Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister responsible for Military Relations |
Promoted to Deputy Premier and additional responsibilities added (Deputy President of the Executive Council) |
|
John Lohr |
Municipal Affairs |
Finance and Treasury Board Labour Relations Minister of Municipal Affairs |
New responsibilities |
|
Becky Druhan |
Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development |
Attorney General and Justice. Provincial Secretary and the Minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism |
New responsibilities |
|
Trevor Boudreau |
|
Department of Energy |
Returning to Cabinet, new Department |
|
Timothy Halman |
Environment and Climate Change |
Environment and Climate Change |
Additional responsibilities (Service Efficiency, formerly named Regulatory Affairs and Service Efficiency) |
|
Brendan Maguire |
Community Services |
Advanced Education |
New responsibilities
|
|
Tory Rushton
|
Natural Resources & Renewables |
Natural Resources |
Previously Department included Energy portfolio, which has been separated into a new Department. |
|
Jill Balser |
Labour, Skills, and Immigration |
Service Nova Scotia |
New responsibilities |
|
Colton LeBlanc
|
Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services |
Growth and Development, formerly known as Economic Development Acadian Affairs and Francophonie |
Economic Development becomes Growth & Development. Housing is now part of this Department. |
|
Kim Masland
|
Public Works |
Department of Emergency Management |
New responsibilities |
Continued roles
|
Name |
Previous role |
New role |
Changes |
|
Tim Houston |
Premier |
Premier
|
No change |
|
Michelle Thompson |
Health and Wellness, the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment and the Minister responsible for Healthcare Redevelopment.
|
Health and Wellness
|
No change |
|
Brian Comer |
Addictions and Mental Health |
Addictions and Mental Health |
No change |
|
Greg Morrow |
Agriculture |
Agriculture |
No change |
|
Kent Smith |
Fisheries and Aquaculture |
Fisheries and Aquaculture |
No change |
|
Twila Grosse |
Public Service Commission |
Public Service Commission |
No change |
Departing Cabinet
|
Name |
Previous role |
New role |
Changes |
|
Allan MacMaster |
Finance and Treasury Board Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage |
Seeking federal office |
|
|
Susan Corkum-Greek |
Economic Development |
MLA |
|
|
Brian Wong |
Advanced Education |
MLA |
|
Premier Tim Houston, President of the Executive Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of Priorities and Planning, and Minister of Trade (Communications Nova Scotia).
Barbara Adams swears the oath of office at the cabinet swearing-in ceremony today, December 12. She was named Deputy Premier and Deputy President of the Executive Council, Minister of Seniors and Long-Term Care and Minister responsible for Military Relations. (Communications Nova Scotia).
Premier Tim Houston and cabinet members at the swearing in ceremony at the Halifax Convention Centre. (Communications Nova Scotia).
Elder Lorraine Whitman offers a smudging to the new cabinet members at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Halifax Convention Centre. (Communications Nova Scotia)
