Brian Gallant's Liberal government will be sworn in on Oct. 7

Premier-designate Brian Gallant's Liberal government will be sworn in on Oct. 7.

Gallant met with Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas on Friday morning at Government House in Fredericton.

The two discussed the formal transition of government. Gallant's government, including his new cabinet, will be sworn in on Oct. 7.

The incoming premier said he has not decided on how large his cabinet is going to be when it is named.

However, Gallant said he will appoint fewer cabinet ministers than the outgoing Alward cabinet.  

Another part of the transition process will be to replace a few political deputy ministers, who are being laid off by the Progressive Conservative government.

Gallant said the replacements will be hired on merit and not politics.

"We are going to hire competent people and when it comes to the certain hires, we are still in the transition phase as you can understand, so we are going to see what structure we are going to have and what departments we keep and which organizations and which positions need to be filled," he said.

In the past, taxpayers have been on the hook financially for severance packages given to politically-connected deputy ministers. Five deputy ministers were given these severance packages in 2010.

Gallant's Liberals won 27 seats in Monday's election compared to 21 seats for the Progressive Conservatives and a single seat for the Green Party.

Elections New Brunswick will officially declare the election results on Friday.

There are several ridings where recounts may be filed.

The premier-designate said he has no problem with any recounts that could be called, but he said politicians have to be very careful about any statements that could be threatening to Elections New Brunswick's independence.

"I think it is very, very dangerous for politicians to start talking about who should be doing what in Elections New Brunswick," he said.

"This is an organization that is independent and I think for us to put public pressure on an organization like that is a slippery slope."