There was moving and shaking within Premier Tony Wakeham's cabinet as several high-profile portfolios were reassigned at a swearing-in ceremony Thursday morning in St. John’s.
Lela Evans out as health minister
Elizabeth Whitten · CBC News
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Health minister shuffled out of portfolio to focus on Labrador, premier says August 20| Duration 2:41
Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham has shuffled seven members of his cabinet, with the biggest changes coming to Health and Community Services.
Joedy Wall got the nod for health minister and minister of mental health and addictions. He was previously minister of social supports, housing and poverty reduction.
That means there is one less portfolio on Lela Evans's desk — which is quite full. She still holds multiple titles, including being the minister for women and gender equality, Labrador affairs, and Indigenous relations and reconciliation. Evans was not present at Government House for the announcement on Thursday morning.
Earlier this year, there were questions about whether Evans had too many portfolios when she was handed her sixth ministerial position.
However, speaking to reporters after the cabinet shuffle, Wakeham expressed his confidence in Evans, saying she has “proven herself, time and time again. And she has done tremendous work on behalf of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
He said he wants Evans to focus on her role as minister of Labrador affairs, as its expected to become increasingly busy.
Wakeham said Wall has also done a “tremendous job” in his previous posts and lauded his commitment to people.
"I think minister Wall will be an excellent choice for health," he said.
'What we want to do going forward'
Andrea Barbour is out as tourism minister. She will now be responsible for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change as well as being the minister overseeing the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board.
Barbour has faced criticism since being elected, including for using AI to alter a picture of The Rooms for a Facebook post. She came under scrutiny — and later apologized for — any disappointment over her speeches at the memorial ceremonies in northern France in July 2026.
She is replaced by Mike Goosney, who had previously served as labour minister. Goosney is also the minister of Sport, Recreation and Parks, the minister responsible for PictureNL, the minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Arts Council and the minister responsible for the Pippy Park Commission.
Wakeham pointed to Barbour’s previous work in an environmental capacity, advising people to read her biography. According to a government statement, Barbour previously worked as a scientist with the federal government specializing in water management, pollution policy and ecological science.
When asked whether Barbour’s past controversies played a part in her being removed from her previous portfolio, Wakeham was firm in his response, saying “not at all. As I said, this was about what we want to do going forward.”
He added there are major economic potential opportunities before N.L. and it’s important for the minister of environment to be a separate portfolio.
Chris Tibbs is now the minister of social supports and well-being, the minister of housing, the minister of poverty reduction, and the minister responsible for the status of persons with disabilities.
'Signal to businesses'
Lloyd Parrott is now the minister responsible for red tape reduction, the minister of government services, the minister of labour and minister responsible for Workplace N.L. Parrott is also still minister of energy and mines as well as government house leader.
Wakeham said he created the new red tape portfolio to “signal to businesses and communities that we want to make sure that we don’t get in the way but we are there to assist with businesses and development.”
In the recent provincial budget, the province promised to create a red tape reduction office.
Barry Petten is now minister of municipal and community affairs, minister of community engagement, Registrar General and deputy government house leader, in addition to his role as deputy premier, minister of transportation and infrastructure, and minister of public procurement.
Craig Pardy remains the finance minister, and is now also the minister responsible for the Office of the Chief Information Officer.
Wakeham called the cabinet shuffle a “realignment.”
“I do this to get ready for the next phase, which is about delivering on major projects, which is about unlocking the potential of Labrador, which is about streamlining government services, and making ourselves more efficient as we get ready for what comes next,” said Wakeham.
He said the move also ties into what his party promised to pursue if elected, improving health care, lowering taxes and enhancing community safety.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elizabeth Whitten is a journalist with CBC News, based in St. John's.
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