Changes announced to senior ranks of Nova Scotia public service

Premier Tim Houston announced changes to the senior ranks of Nova Scotia's public service on Thursday.

Those changes include new roles for some of the province's most experienced public servants and departures of some long-serving people. Senior members of the public service serve at the pleasure of the premier.

Newly appointed deputy and associated deputy ministers include:

• Kathleen Trott as deputy minister of seniors and long-term care; Trott retains her role as deputy minister of the Office of Addictions and Mental Health
• Jason Hollett: deputy minister of agriculture; he retains his role as deputy minister of fisheries and aquaculture
• Christopher Shore: deputy minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage
• Janet Lynn Huntington: associate deputy minister of seniors and long-term care
• Shelley James: associate deputy minister of opportunities and social development, the department formerly known as community services
• Vicki Elliott-Lopez: associate deputy minister of growth and development (formerly known as economic development) with a focus on housing
• Mark Peck: associate deputy minister of education and early childhood development
• Robert Bourgeois: controller for the Department of Finance and Treasury Board.

Other changes announced Thursday by the premier's office include:

• Paul Lafleche, who retains his executive deputy minister responsibilities, also becomes deputy minister of public works and municipal affairs
• Tracey Barbrick: deputy minister of advanced education and deputy minister of education and early childhood development
• Byron Rafuse: deputy minister responsible for housing
• Peter Hackett: deputy minister for the Joint Regional Transportation Authority
• Ryan Grant: deputy minister of labour, skills and immigration
• Jennifer Church: chief executive officer of the Office of Service Efficiency and she remains deputy minister of Communications Nova Scotia and the Office of Priorities and Planning
• Joanne Munro becomes chief executive officer of the Office of L'nu Affairs and remains deputy minister of Service Nova Scotia
• Kelliann Dean: acting deputy minister of Growth and Development (formerly economic development); Dean also remains deputy minister of finance and treasury board and an executive deputy minister
• Karen Gatien becomes deputy energy minister and remains deputy minister of natural resources and an executive deputy minister
• Sara Halliday: associate deputy minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage
• Cynthia Carroll: associate deputy minister of justice
• Geoff Gatien: associate deputy minister of health and wellness
• Peter Geddes: associate deputy minister of public works
• Vanessa Chouinard: associate deputy minister of labour, skills and immigration.

Houston also announced that Ava Czapalay, Justin Huston, Elwin LeRoux and Loretta Robichaud are leaving their roles as deputy ministers. Chris Collett is leaving his role as an associate deputy minister and Peter MacAskill is leaving as chief executive officer of Invest Nova Scotia.

Departing deputies receive 12 months severance in accordance with their respective contracts.

Fred Crooks, the former chief executive officer of the former Office of Regulator Affairs and Service Efficiency, is retiring in 2025. Until then, the premier's office said he would help with the transition to the new Office of Service Efficiency.

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