Premier Tim Houston makes high-ranking civil service appointments

Premier Tim Houston announced appointments on Friday that will take effect when Nova Scotia's highest-ranking public servant leaves her job.

Houston announced that Tracey Taweel will become deputy minister to the premier and head of the public service. Taweel will also maintain her responsibility as an executive deputy minister.

Before her most recent appointment, Taweel served as a deputy minister and associate deputy for various government departments.

"Tracey has demonstrated her ability to find solutions to tackle some of Nova Scotia's most pressing issues as a deputy and executive deputy minister," Houston said in a statement.

"I am pleased to appoint her to the top deputy position and excited to welcome her to her new role."

Meanwhile, Jeannine Lagassé, a former deputy minister of health and wellness, will return to the public service as clerk of the executive council and deputy minister of the treasury and policy board.

"Jeannine has a passion for public service and a wealth of experience that I know will be a strong asset to this role," the premier said in the statement.

The appointments are effective July 1. Houston's press secretary said Lagassé and Taweel would be on standard contracts and paid at the top of the senior official scale, which is $285,000 a year.

Friday's announcement follows news earlier this month that Laura Lee Langley, who is head of public service, clerk of the executive council and deputy minister to the premier, will retire June 30.

A day after the premier announced her retirement, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Langley will become the next president of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.