FRANCAIS
TWO NEW MINISTERS
SWORN INTO CABINET
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Six Cabinet Members
Assigned New Duties
With two ministers announcing they will not seek re- election, Premier Gary Filmon today added two new members to the provincial cabinet.
Six ministers were also assigned new duties in the 18- member cabinet during a swearing-in ceremony today at the Legislative Building conducted by Lieutenant Governor W. Yvon Dumont.
"As part of our government’s commitment to renewal and meeting new challenges, adding two new faces to cabinet ensures we continue to develop new ways of bettering the lives of Manitobans," said Filmon. "Our efforts will continue to focus on enhancing the health care system and protecting and strengthening our economy so our children can call Manitoba home now and in the future."
New ministers assuming portfolios are:
Shirley Render (MLA, St. Vital), minister of consumer and corporate affairs and minister responsible for the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission; and
Mervin Tweed (MLA, Turtle Mountain), minister of industry, trade and tourism.
Render was first elected to the Manitoba legislature in 1990 and has served on the Manitoba Constitutional Task Force, the Legislative Review Committee and is a member of the board of directors of Manitoba Hydro. Tweed operated a successful automobile business before being elected to the legislature in 1995 and being appointed as the legislative assistant to the minister of health.
In order of precedence, current ministers who are assuming new responsibilities are:
James C. McCrae (MLA, Brandon West) becomes minister of education and training, relinquishing responsibilities for the environment and the Manitoba Public Insurance Act and the duties of government house leader;
Harold Gilleshammer (MLA, Minnedosa) becomes minister of finance and chair of treasury board, relinquishing responsibilities for labour, the Civil Service Act, the Civil Service Superannuation Act, the Civil Service Supplementary Severance Benefit Act, the Public Servants Insurance Act and the Workers Compensation Act;
Darren Praznik (MLA, Lac du Bonnet) becomes minister of highways and transportation, minister responsible for the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation and government house leader, retaining cabinet responsibilities for French Language Services and relinquishing responsibility for health;
Eric Stefanson (MLA, Kirkfield Park) becomes deputy premier and minister of health, retaining cabinet responsibilities for fitness and amateur sport, relinquishing the chair of treasury board and responsibilities for finance and the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation;
Linda McIntosh (MLA, Assiniboia) becomes minister of the environment and minister responsible for the Manitoba Public Insurance Act, relinquishing responsibilities for education and training; and
Michael Radcliffe (MLA, River Heights) becomes minister of labour and minister responsible for the Civil Service Act, the Civil Service Superannuation Act, the Civil Service Supplementary Severance Benefit Act, the Public Servants Insurance Act and the Workers Compensation Act, relinquishing responsibilities for consumer and corporate affairs and the Manitoba Gaming Control Commission.
Ministers whose cabinet duties remain unchanged are Harry Enns, minister of agriculture; Glen Cummings, minister of natural resources; Len Derkach, minister of rural development; Bonnie Mitchelson, minister of family services; Rosemary Vodrey, minister of culture, heritage and citizenship, minister responsible for multiculturalism and minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act; Jack Reimer, minister of urban affairs, minister of housing and minister responsible for seniors; Vic Toews, minister of justice and attorney general, Keeper of Great Seal and minister for constitutional affairs; David Newman, minister of energy and mines, minister of northern affairs, minister responsible for Native affairs, minister responsible for the Manitoba Hydro Act and deputy house leader; and Frank Pitura, minister of government services.
Filmon also acknowledged the commitment, knowledge and experience his two retiring ministers brought to cabinet and their portfolios.
"I want to thank James Downey and Glen Findlay for the energy and dedication they brought to the provincial cabinet table to improve the lives of Manitobans," said Filmon. "They have served the province of Manitoba with great distinction and I wish them well in their future endeavors."
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SHIRLEY RENDER, MLA FOR ST. VITAL
First elected to the Manitoba Legislature in 1990, Shirley remains an active member of the government having served on many committees, including the Manitoba Constitutional Task Force, the Legislative Review Committee, the Regulatory Review Committee and the Legislative Assembly Management Committee.
Outside government, Shirley serves on the Board of Directors of Manitoba Hydro, the Advisory Committee of the Youville Centre, the Western Canada Aviation Museum Foundation and is a patron of the Canadian Bush Plane Heritage Centre. She has been the facilitator of Keeping Our Community Safe, a grassroots initiative involving a cross-section of residents and organizations in St. Vital.
Shirley's background includes experience in social work, Victorian Order of Nurses Home Care and business. Her extensive volunteer service was recognized with the presentation of the Prix Manitoba Award for Heritage in 1990 and in 1992 she was awarded the Canada 125 medal.
Outside politics, Shirley is a well-known and respected aviation historian and researcher. She is the author of the book No Place For A Lady, the Story of Canadian Women Pilots 1928-1992, is past president of the Western Canada Aviation Museum, is the current editor of the Aviation Review and has been a licensed pilot since 1973.
Shirley and her husband Doug have one daughter, Kelly and one son, Matthew.
MERV TWEED, MLA FOR TURTLE MOUNTAIN
Born and raised in Medora, Manitoba, Merv Tweed was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Turtle Mountain on April 25, 1995.
A graduate of the Brandon University, Merv has operated a successful automobile business for 17 years. Merv served as a municipal councillor for five years as well as Deputy Reeve for the Rural Municipality of Brenda for three years.
An active supporter of community and recreational affairs, Merv served as a member of the executive for the Killarney and Area Recreation Commission and has been active on numerous professional business councils and associations as well as a supporter of minor sports in the Killarney and Deloraine area.
Since being elected, Merv has served as Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Rural Development. Most recently he has been Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Health. He is also contributing to the ongoing Canada Pension Plan Task Force and the Regulatory Review Committee. From March to April of 1996, Merv served as co-chair for the Working For Value Task Force which, over the course of seven weeks, visited 26 different locations in rural Manitoba with a mind to hearing what Manitobans see as the future of rural business in our province.
Merv and his wife Bev have three children; Jennifer, Charles and Matthew.
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