(September 21, 2022, St. John’s) – David Brazil, PC Official Opposition Leader and MHA for Conception Bay East–Bell Island, today announced changes in leadership roles for the PC Shadow Cabinet.

“The Furey Liberals have lost touch with people and lost sight of the people’s priorities, so we – as the Official Opposition – are realigning roles to focus even more attention on priorities that need the government’s attention. These key areas include seniors, youth, poverty reduction and persons with disabilities, while continuing to demand action on the high cost of living, the health care crisis, and the need for job growth,” said Brazil.

“Our PC Caucus will continue to focus the government’s attention on urgent social and economic needs throughout our province that are not being properly addressed by the Liberal government.

“Reorganizing responsibilities and dividing shadow portfolios among multiple caucus members has the added benefit of keeping the government on its toes, showcasing issues from multiple perspectives, increasing the pressure on urgent issues where decisions matter, and broadening the experience of our caucus members, who already bring a significant depth and breadth of experience to the table from their varied backgrounds,” Brazil said.

“We are not only getting ready for a very busy session of the House of Assembly when it opens later this fall, but applying pressure right now, because the urgency for intervention is great.”

The complete list of Shadow Cabinet responsibilities (outlined in the table below) are as follows:

· David Brazil takes on Industry, Energy and Technology in addition to Intergovernmental Affairs and his role as Opposition Leader.

· Barry Petten adds Children and Youth Services as well as the Public Procurement Agency to his responsibility for Education.

· Helen Conway Ottenheimer joins the Public Accounts Committee and adds Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Labrador Affairs to her responsibilities for Justice and Public Safety, the Attorney General, Women and Gender Equality, and Francophone Affairs.

· Joedy Wall becomes Caucus Chair and adds responsibility for Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, and Labour as well as NL Housing to his responsibilities for Municipal and Provincial Affairs and the Registrar General.

· Tony Wakeham adds Seniors and Ageing to his responsibilities for Finance, and the NL Liquor Corporation.

· Craig Pardy joins the House of Assembly Management Commission and adds Treasury Board, the Public Service Commission, Poverty Reduction and Social Development to his responsibility for Fisheries.

· Loyola O’Driscoll becomes Caucus Whip and takes on the responsibility for Transportation and Infrastructure.

· Paul Dinn continues to focus his full attention on Health and Community Services

· Jeff Dwyer adds Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation to his responsibility for Persons with Disabilities.

· Pleaman Forsey adds Environment and Climate Change to his responsibilities for Forestry and Agriculture, and Workplace NL.

· Chris Tibbs takes on the responsibilities for Digital Government and Service NL, OCIO, and Fire and Emergency Services NL.

Lloyd Parrott announced his candidacy for the Party leadership in July 2022. Consistent with the practices in past leadership races and other jurisdictions and parties, caucus members who publicly announce their bid for the leadership of the Party agree to step down from their Shadow Cabinet positions and any House offices they may hold from the time that their candidacy is publicly declared. Leadership candidates continue to fulfil their duties as Members and continue to be active members in their district, the caucus, and the House of Assembly.

The complete list of changes follows:

David Brazil, MHA Conception Bay East – Bell Island

Opposition Leader

Intergovernmental Affairs

Industry, Energy and Technology

Barry Petten, MHA Conception Bay South

Opposition House Leader

Management Commission

Education

Children and Youth Services

Public Procurement Agency

Helen Conway Ottenheimer, MHA Harbour Main

Deputy House Leader

Public Accounts, Member

Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation and Labrador Affairs

Justice and Public Safety

Attorney General

Women and Gender Equality

Francophone Affairs

Joedy Wall, MHA Cape St. Francis

Caucus Chair

Immigration, Population Growth and Skills, and Labour

NL Housing

Municipal and Provincial Affairs and Registrar General

Tony Wakeham, MHA Stephenville – Port au Port

Public Accounts, Chair

Finance

Seniors and Ageing

NL Liquor Corporation

Craig Pardy, MHA Bonavista

HOA Management Commission

Poverty Reduction and Social Development

Fisheries

Treasury Board

Public Service Commission

Loyola O’Driscoll, MHA Ferryland

Caucus Whip

Transportation and Infrastructure

Paul Dinn, MHA, Topsail – Paradise

Health and Community Services

Jeff Dwyer, MHA Placentia West – Bellevue

Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation

Persons with Disabilities

Pleaman Forsey, MHA Exploits

Environment and Climate Change

Forestry and Agriculture

Workplace NL

Chris Tibbs, MHA

Grand Falls-Windsor – Buchans

Digital Government and Service NL

OCIO

Fire and Emergency Services NL

Lloyd Parrott, MHA Terra Nova

N/A (declared PC leadership candidate)

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Contacts:

David Maher

Director of Strategic Communications

(cell) 709-725-0984

DavidMaher@gov.nl.ca