N.S. premier announces ministerial assistant roles

With the province's largest caucus ever, Premier Tim Houston is bringing back ministerial assistants, a custom previously used by governments such as Stephen McNeil's Liberals in 2013 and the Darrell Dexter NDP in 2009 when both had large caucuses.

Houston on Thursday announced assignments for all members of his caucus who are not cabinet ministers or Speaker of the House. Unlike ministers and the Speaker, ministerial assistants do not receive additional pay for their duties.

According to a news release from the premier's office, they will "focus on priority files in their respective departments, supporting the minister and policy development."

The appointments include Lunenburg MLA Susan Corkum-Greek and Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank MLA Brian Wong, cabinet ministers during the Tories' first term who were not reappointed last week.

Roles for former cabinet ministers

Corkum-Greek will be the ministerial assistant for the Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Department, with a focus on tourism. Wong will be the assistant for Service Nova Scotia, focusing on government procurement services.

Sackville-Beaver Bank MLA Brad Johns will be the ministerial assistant for the Opportunities and Social Development Department, formerly known as Community Services.

A spokesperson for the premier's office said Johns's duties will not include the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women, a file often linked to Community Services. Johns resigned from cabinet during the PCs' first mandate after saying he did not think domestic violence was an epidemic in the province.

The remaining assignments include:

• David Bowlby: Agriculture.

• Rick Burns: Cyber Security and Digital Solutions.

• Adegoke Fadare: Service Efficiency.

• Nick Hilton: Health and Wellness.

• John MacDonald: Growth and Development.

• Danny MacGillivray: Municipal Affairs.

• Marco MacLeod: Energy.

• Kyle MacQuarrie: Natural Resources and Gaelic Affairs.

• Brad McGowan: Education and Early Childhood Development.

• Tim Outhit: Public Works, focusing on the Joint Regional Transportation Authority.

• Chris Palmer: Military Relations and Labour, Skills and Immigration.

• Ryan Robicheau: Finance and Treasury Board.

• Melissa Sheehy-Richard: Environment and Climate Change.

• Damian Stoilov: Growth and Development, focusing on the Nova Scotia Loyal program.

• Tom Taggart: Public Works.

• Dianne Timmins: Fisheries and Aquaculture.

• Julie Vanexan: Advanced Education.

• John White: Growth and Development, focusing on housing.