MacLauchlan cabinet to feature mix of new faces and experience

On the morning of his swearing-in as the premier of P.E.I. Wade MacLauchlan said his new cabinet will prove the Liberals are election ready, even if he refuses to give a firm date on when that election will take place.

Prince Edward Islanders don't want an election when they are supposed to be doing other things in the summer months, and they don't want to be climbing over snowbanks.- Wade MacLauchlan

MacLauchlan says he spent part of Sunday, one day after accepting the job of Liberal leader, calling the members of his first cabinet.  

"People should expect that we are in a pre-election mode. It is a time for experience," he told CBC's Island Morning on Monday. 

The incoming premier is, in fact, losing some of his most experienced ministers, Fisheries Minister Ron MacKinley, Deputy Premier and Agriculture Minister George Webster and Finance Minister Wes Sheridan have announced they won't be running in the next election.

Transportation Minister Robert Vessey has also resigned to become MacLauchlan's chief of staff.

Liberal MLA Carolyn Bertram, speaker of the house, has also announced she is leaving provincial politics.

​As he has since announcing his entry into provincial politics, MacLauchlan refused to set an election date.

"Prince Edward Islanders don't want an election when they are supposed to be doing other things in the summer months, and they don't want to be climbing over snowbanks," MacLauchlan said.

"When you start figuring out where those Monday's are, you can probably figure out down to a fairly narrow range when things are going to be."

CBC.CA will have live coverage of the swearing-in ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. Monday.

For mobile device users: Should Wade MacLauchlan go with status quo in his cabinet before the election, or start renewal now?