Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew brings 3 new ministers into cabinet

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is reshuffling his cabinet just over a year after taking office, introducing new departments and redistributing responsibilities among existing ministers.

MLA Mintu Sandhu is joining the cabinet as the new minister of the delivery of public services. This portfolio, previously known as the Consumer Protection and Government Services Ministry, was previously held by MLA Lisa Naylor, who will continue in her role as minister of transportation and infrastructure.

MLA Nellie Kennedy is also joining the cabinet, taking over from Glen Simard as the minister of sport, culture, heritage, and tourism.

Simard will now lead the Municipal and Northern Relations portfolio, while continuing his duties as minister of francophone affairs and minister responsible for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

Additionally, the province is creating a new Department of Innovation and New Technology, which will be headed by MLA Mike Moroz.

In a significant restructuring, the government is splitting the Ministry of Economic Development, Investment, Trade, and Natural Resources into two separate ministries.

The new Ministry of Business, Mining, Trades, and Job Creation will be led by MLA Jamie Moses, who previously served as minister for the former portfolio.

MLA Ian Bushie will swap out of Municipal and Northern Relations to lead the newly formed Natural Resources and Indigenous Futures Ministry.

The province is also appointing five MLAs as new legislative assistants to various ministries:

• Mike Moyes will serve as legislative assistant for the Ministry of Education and Childhood Education.
• Jelynn Dela Cruz will assist the Ministry of Health, Seniors, and Long-term Care.
• Jasdeep Devgan will assist the Ministry of Finance.
• Robert Loiselle will assist the Ministry of Municipal and Northern Relations.
• Eric Redhead will assist the Ministry for Indigenous Reconciliation, which is led by Kinew himself.

MLA Nello Altomare, who had temporarily stepped down from his position as education and early childhood learning minister in October for medical reasons, will remain in cabinet.