Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister announced a number of changes to the provincial cabinet today, including one new face and a few job swaps. 

Pallister says the Department of Indigenous and Municipal Relations will be split into the department of Indigenous and Northern Relations and the department Municipal Relations.

Eileen Clarke, the MLA for Agassiz who oversaw both departments before will now be the minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations, while Pallister added Gimli MLA Jeff Wharton to the fold as the minister of Municipal Relations.  

"I think it's appropriate now with the work load at the level it's been at the past year that we keep our focus on Indigenous issues but maintain strong working relationships with municipal governments and the city of Winnipeg," Pallister told reporters after the announcement. "Having Jeff on board now, we'll be able to share that workload and we'll be able to pursue some of the initiatives we have underway and some new ones as well." 

The other big change was a swapping of portfolios between Riel MLA Rochelle Squires and River East MLA Cathy Cox. Squires will be taking over as the minister of sustainable development and Cox will take over minister of sport, culture and heritage. 

Pallister dismissed the notion some of the changes may be seen as promotions or demotions, saying the government learned from the process throughout 2016 and thought these decisions were the right ones for 2017. 

"All of our ministers have applied themselves tremendously well," said Pallister. "They will take with them into these new responsibilities all they've learned and the experiences they've gained over the past year. Some of them are related experiences directly and some indirectly but either way we're going to build on that knowledge base we've gained and continue to make progress on the files we must focus on now." 

Squires says she's excited to continue on as the minister responsible for francophone affairs and status of women while taking on her knew role. 

"I'm pleased about continuing my work to enhance the equality of women in Manitoba," said Squires. "Now with sustainable development, Manitobans expect us to be good stewards with finances, with resources and with the land. I'm very excited to play a role in that aspect." 

Other changes to the cabinet include: 

  • Ron Schuler (St. Paul) switching from minister of Crown services to minister of infrastructure
  • Cliff Cullen (Spruce Woods) switching from minister of growth, enterprise and trade to minister of Crown services and government house leader
  • Blaine Pedersen (Midland) switching from minister of infrastructure to minister of growth, enterprise and trade

The following MLA's retained their cabinet positions:

  • Brian Pallister (Fort Whyte) - premier and president of the Executive Council; minister of intergovernmental affairs and international relations
  • Heather Stefanson (Tuxedo) - minister of justice and attorney general; Keeper of the Seal of the Province of Manitoba; deputy premier
  • Kelvin Goertzen (Steinbach) - minister of health, seniors and active living
  • Ralph Eichler (Lakeside) - minister of agriculture
  • Cameron Friesen (Morden-Winkler) - minister of finance and minister responsible for civil service
  • Ian Wishart (Portage la Prairie) - minister of education and training
  • Scott Fielding (Kirkfield Park) - minister of families