Political Watchers Weigh in on Potential Gallant Cabinet Shuffle

21 juillet 2017 – Times & Transcript Political watchers weigh in on potential Gallant cabinet shuffle ADAM HURAS LEGISLATURE BUREAU Who should be pushed out? Who’s poised for a cabinet seat? Let the speculation begin. With Premier Brian Gallant’s office confirming that the Liberal government is considering a cabinet shuffle as early as the end of summer, political watchers have been quick to theorize what a shakeup will look like. “It is common practice for a provincial government to shuffle its cabinet in the lead-up to an election,” said Jamie Gillies, associate professor of communications and public policy at St. Thomas University. “It gives a government an opportunity to potentially increase the profile of MLAs in more vulnerable constituencies or promote those who have not yet served in cabinet. “A last cabinet shuff le before an election can also be seen as a final opportunity to move retiring cabinet ministers out in favour of those running for re-election and, in some cases, remove ministers that have handled files or policy areas that have proved unpopular with the public.” UNPOPULAR FILES “I’m surprised it hasn’t happened already,” said Mario Levesque, a political science professor at Mount Allison University, in an interview with the Telegraph-Journal. “There are some files that definitely need a new face.” It’s already in its fifth month of grabbing headlines and giving the Gallant government headaches, but the ongoing property tax controversy will stay in the spotlight with auditor general Kim MacPherson slated to release a report on the troubled assessment system by the end of November. Service New Brunswick Minister Ed Doherty, the minister responsible for the assessment system, has said little on the file, with Serge Rousselle, the minister of Environment and Local Government, largely taking the lead. 21 juillet 2017 – Times & Transcript “Doherty is one that should be moved,” Levesque said.“The question is ‘is he going to re-offer or not?’ “If he isn’t, he should be moved. The government is taking a beating over property tax so a move for him would be good. If he stands for re-election, Gallant has a challenge in front of him because where do you put him in cabinet?” Doherty hasn’t said publicly whether he will seek re-election. Levesque also called for Health Minister Victor Boudreau to be removed from the Health file following the water-testing controversy at Parlee Beach and the minister’s stake in the controversial Shediac campground. That’s despite Boudreau forfeiting his entire stake in the Camping Shediac project in May. The firing of former chief medical officer Dr. Eilish Cleary and the dismissal of former president and CEO of Vitalité Health Network Rino Volpé, both who received payouts from government in the aftermath of their terminations, have also plagued the Health file. Levesque suggested that current Economic Development Minister Francine Landry has performed well and could be promoted to Health, while also suggesting that Finance Minister Cathy Rogers would be an option. That said, it would be difficult to move Rogers from Finance after becoming the first-ever female in the province to be appointed to the top job. CONSIDERATIONS “When you have to pick members of the cabinet, the premier doesn’t have an easy task,” Université de Moncton political science professor Roger Ouellette said. “He has to consider women and men, francophone and anglophone, cities and rural areas. “That’s the challenge here.” Ouellette believes Doherty can’t be removed from cabinet. 21 juillet 2017 – Times & Transcript “For sure, he’s underperformed, but he holds a seat in Saint John,”he said. Doherty holds the only Liberal seat in the Port City’s downtown. Meanwhile, Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West MLA Rick Doucet and Charlotte- Campobello MLA John Ames, the only other southwestern New Brunswick seats held by Liberals, are already in cabinet. “He cannot be removed from the cabinet,” Ouellette said. “The only way would be if he retires.” Ouellette said Boudreau, and his senior political expertise, also likely won’t be shuffled out of cabinet altogether unless he decides not to re-offer. “But he should be removed from Health for a fresh look at the file,” he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Premier Stephen Horsman has the only Liberal seat in the capital region, making it difficult for the Gallant government to demote or remove him from cabinet. BACKBENCH PROMOTIONS Benoit Bourque in Kent South, who holds a master’s degree in international relations from Université Laval and has worked in international relations for over a decade, was consensus pick of political scientists to grab a junior cabinet spot. Restigouche West MLA Gilles LePage, who has a background in economic development, could also be poised for a promotion. Ouellette said that Carleton-Victoria MLA Andrew Harvey will be heavily considered to secure a seat in the Upper River Valley in a race that was close in 2014. Victoria-la-Vallée MLA Chuck Chiasson could also be a consideration. Ouellette said it will prove more difficult for the Liberals depending on where former MP Mike Allen runs, if he decides to enter provincial politics. Allen backed Higgs in the final rounds of the Progressive Conservative leadership race. 21 juillet 2017 – Times & Transcript Meanwhile, the Liberals currently hold nine southeastern seats with several of those MLAs - Rogers, Boudreau, Melanson and Gallant himself - in cabinet. If Boudreau exits, Ouellette said that Moncton East MLA Monique LeBlanc could be considered. Bourque being from that region also complicates things. LeBlanc is currently deputy speaker and a member of the treasury board. Gallant has also made it a priority to advance women’s issues and LeBlanc remains the only woman in the Liberal caucus without a cabinet seat. .

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