New NDP ministers' fire power tested

Question period wasn't as laser focused as it was last week, not in topic and not in personnel.

Last week, Opposition Leader Brian Pallister and Premier Greg Selinger were the only ones duelling. 

Today, new ministers were targeted with questions.

Health Minister Sharon Blady, Jobs and the Economy Minister Kevin Chief, Justice Minister James Allum and Finance Minister Greg Dewar were all targets.

New Municipal Affairs Minister Drew Caldwell was absent during the debate. 

The newly promoted ministers held their ground and took zingers at the opposition. When Dewar defended the government's recent downgrade to its bond rating, Dewar said "We'll take our record over theirs," to raucous applause from the NDP caucus.

Note, former ministers Jennifer Howard and Theresa Oswald provided some of the most enthusiastic applause. 

By far the most impassioned in the bunch today: Steve Ashton. The infrastructure minister was spitting fire. He said if the opposition voted against supporting the throne speech, it was not supporting flood mitigation.

"They [The PCs] don't care about flood victims!" Ashton yelled out. 

Members of both main parties accused the other side of cutting jobs or services.

There were more than a few outbursts of "Cut, Cut, Cut" or "Careful, he's running with scissors."

Still, this day of debate was far calmer than last week.