Kinew adds tech portfolio, shuffles cabinet

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This article was published 13/11/2024 (339 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Premier Wab Kinew has created a new department, added fresh faces to his cabinet and given others new responsibilities as his government heads into its second year.

“After spending a year learning how government works… we decided it would be good to bring a few new ministers onto the team so that they can focus on some of these priorities,” Kinew said, citing building up the economy, as he increased his cabinet by three, to 18 members, including himself. The cabinet met for the first time Wednesday after the swearing-in.

Mike Moroz has been named minister for the new Manitoba innovation and new technology department.

“Keeping people who are software engineers and people who work in these new economy fields in the province and making sure more young people stay here and set down roots is going to be a big part of the portfolio,” said Kinew, who talked about the potential benefits and risks of of artificial intelligence, which falls under Moroz’s department.

“It’s good for the economy but it also impacts so many aspects of our lives here.”

Mintu Sandhu was sworn in as minister of public service delivery, formerly known as consumer protection and government services.

Kinew said the department was given a simpler name to reflect its mission that includes a mandate to deliver on the promise of plastic health cards and an array of services such as building and maintaining schools.

Nellie Kennedy was appointed minister of sport, culture, heritage and tourism, which has been removed from cabinet minister Glen Simard’s portfolio.

Simard is now in charge of municipal and northern relations, replacing Ian Bushie who is in charge of the renamed department of natural resources and Indigenous futures (formerly relations).

Front-bench ministers — health, finance, justice, education and families — stayed put, noted veteran political observer Paul Thomas.

“No minister had to be demoted or dropped because she or he had become a liability,” the University of Manitoba political studies professor emeritus said.

The three new cabinet ministers were sworn in by Lt-Gov. Anita Neville in a lengthy ceremony at the legislative building. It kicked off with Punjabi cultural dancers, messages of freedom, rights and responsibility from both a rabbi and an imam and an Indigenous prayer by the premier.

“We are here to put the people first… Manitobans from all walks of life,” Kinew said at the ceremony. “It’s no accident that we invited an imam and a rabbi to speak to us today,” he said, commenting on the diversity of his cabinet, its new ministers and the range of life experience they bring to the table.

“Being able to show up and to hear the truths of people from different walks of life in the same place together makes us stronger,” the premier said.

Sandhu was 16 when he arrived in Canada from India, worked at a gas station before buying one, drove a taxi, led a cab company, became active in the NDP and was elected MLA for The Maples in 2019. The married father of three children is 52 and told reporters he never could’ve imagined when he arrived in Canada that he’d be a cabinet minister one day.

Kennedy, who defeated PC cabinet minister Scott Johnston to win Assiniboia, said she embraces the cultural fabric of Manitoba as the granddaughter of Muslim “trailblazers” from the Middle East who homesteaded in the Interlake. “No one was like them (but) they thrived,” said the married mother of two children, who grew up in a “microcosm” of cultures and beliefs with Icelandic, Ukrainian and Peguis First Nation neighbours.

When asked whether promoting Moroz to cabinet, and putting him in charge of a new department, one year after he was elected was intended to help the NDP hang onto the River Heights seat they wrested from the Liberals in last year’s election, Kinew deferred to political analysts.

“It’s going to help River Heights but it’s going to help everyone in Manitoba,” the premier said about Moroz as he praised his “work ethic” and “perseverance.”

Moroz told reporters he plans to offer “the guidance and support necessary” for achievements in the tech sector. “I think my background as a teacher is going to be really helpful here,” he said. Moroz relinquishes his whip responsibilities to Billie Cross.

Thomas said bolstering re-election prospects for MLAs may have contributed to Wednesday’s appointments.

“More significant is the fact that an ambitious government agenda meant that not all areas of potential concern could be captured by the limited number of portfolios,” Thomas said. “The new position for Moroz is an example of this.”

The cabinet adjustment is an attempt by the NDP to distract “from their many failings” and to “prop up targeted ridings as part of their plan to call an early election,” Progressive Conservative interim leader Wayne Ewasko said in a prepared statement, which included no evidence for his claim.

“Adding millions to the cost of running government does nothing to make life more affordable for Manitobans struggling pay cheque to pay cheque,” Ewasko said.

The new ministers will receive a $58,364 raise on top of their base MLA salary of $106,603.

Kinew said Wednesday his government remains committed to balancing the budget in its first term.

Nello Altomare stepped away from his duties as education minister for medical reasons last month. Tracy Schmidt, environment and climate change minister, was appointed indefinitely to also oversee the kindergarten-to-Grade 12 and early childhood education portfolio until he returns.

The premier said he spoke to Altomare on Tuesday and gave him a heads-up about having new colleagues at the cabinet table.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca