Houston says cabinet shuffle about getting ‘right people in the right place’

Windwhistler
8 Min Read
Houston says cabinet shuffle about getting ‘right people in the right place’

Nova Scotia·NewThe premier’s office issued a news release announcing the changes on Tuesday afternoon, framing the move as a way to stay focused on energy and natural resource development.3 people dropped from cabinet in surprise shuffle, 2 addedMichael Gorman · CBC News · Posted: Oct 23, 2025 5:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 25 minutes agoNova Scotia Premier Tim Houston speaks to reporters outside his downtown Halifax office. (Paul Poirier/CBC)Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston did not identify any particular performance issues with three cabinet ministers who lost their portfolios in a surprise shuffle this week, but said he needed to make sure he had “the right people in the right place.” “I got a big team,” the premier told reporters on Wednesday.“I’ve got lots of different perspectives and skill sets and sometimes it’s necessary just to reset to move forward stronger, and I felt it was time to do that.”Houston’s office issued a news release announcing the changes on Tuesday afternoon, framing the move as a way to stay focused on energy and natural resource development. He named himself energy minister, taking over from Trevor Boudreau.Tory Rushton and Becky Druhan, who had been members of the Progressive Conservative cabinet since Houston’s team came to power in 2021, were also dropped. Two sources said Druhan was offered a portfolio switch but turned it down.’You serve at the pleasure of the premier’Druhan, who declined comment on her way into a caucus meeting on Wednesday, was justice minister and attorney general prior to the shakeup. Rushton held the natural resources portfolio.Rushton said he found out about the change during a “quick conversation” with Houston on Tuesday. He said there had been no issues that he and the premier disagreed on.“What I can say is I’m in a good spot right now,” he told reporters Wednesday. “I got into this for Cumberland South and that’s what’s more important to me.”Boudreau, who had previously served as community services minister, said energy was a portfolio he really cared about and believed in.“Look, I enjoyed it. I’m disappointed, but also you serve at the pleasure of the premier and he’s very focused on what he wants to do and I’m encouraged,” he said.Sending a message to industryHouston said he’s hoping the move signals the level of emphasis he’s trying to place on natural resource development. In the last year, the premier has put a particular push on the development of offshore wind, critical minerals, and both onshore and offshore natural gas.“I think the direct line is important to Nova Scotians and it’s also important to industry to know that I’m the person and we want this to happen and we can do it sustainably and we can do it right and we’re going to do that,” said Houston.Rushton’s former portfolio has been added to the duties of Emergency Management Minister Kim Masland. Druhan’s duties went to Scott Armstrong, who, until Tuesday, was social development minister. That portfolio has been added to the responsibilities of Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barb Adams.Derek Mombourquette is interim Liberal leader. (Paul Poirier/CBC)Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said he was surprised to see Druhan and Rushton, in particular, dropped from cabinet. He speculated that there are “internal problems” within the PC caucus.There appear to be few links between the duties of the two former ministers other than the recently passed Bill 127, which included provisions aimed at people who block logging operations on Crown land. Mi’kmaw leadership has questioned whether the bill violates their rights and have suggested a legal challenge could be possible.Houston said there was no connection between Bill 127 and the cabinet shuffle.Adams becomes the fifth minister to hold the social development portfolio — formerly known as community services — since the PCs came to power in 2021. Mombourquette said that lack of consistency at the helm of such a significant department is a concern.“These are some of the most important programs that Nova Scotians use each and every day,” he said. “When you have that many ministers and that much of a revolving door in that department, it tells me that there’s a lack of commitment there from the government.”Tuesday’s announcement also included two newcomers to the PC cabinet.’Completely out of the blue’Hants East MLA John A. MacDonald is the new municipal affairs minister, taking a portfolio from Finance Minister John Lohr.MacDonald, a municipal councillor for nine years before entering provincial politics, said he found out Monday that he would be going into cabinet.“This was completely out of the blue,” he told reporters a day after a private swearing-in ceremony for the new cabinet ministers.Glace Bay-Dominion MLA Johnny White said he was likewise surprised when he heard from Houston on Monday about his new duties as housing minister.“And it’s been a complete blur since,” he told reporters. “They say drinking from a firehose — that’s really what it’s been like.”Cabinet ministers receive an additional $63,250 on top of the base MLA salary of $115,000.Lisa Lachance is the NDP House leader. (Paul Poirier/CBC)NDP House leader Lisa Lachance said their caucus was pleased to see the government once again designate a minister with the specific focus of housing. After the 2024 election, those duties were rolled into the portfolio of Growth and Development Minister Colton LeBlanc.“We’ve been asking for a minister because we know when you have a minister focused on something, that hopefully will help create time and space for action, but we need to see the action,” Lachance told reporters.Prior to Tuesday, all members of the PC caucus who were not cabinet ministers served as ministerial assistants, roles that came with a $16,000 pay bump. It’s unclear whether Boudreau, Druhan or Rushton will be assigned such roles.MacDonald’s former role of caucus chair is going to Kings West MLA Chris Palmer. That duty comes with an additional payment of $10,506.MORE TOP STORIES ABOUT THE AUTHORMichael Gorman covers the Nova Scotia legislature for CBC, with additional focuses on health care and rural communities. Contact him with story ideas at michael.gorman@cbc.ca

Share This Article
x  Powerful Protection for WordPress, from Shield Security
This Site Is Protected By
Shield Security