Gallant's cabinet shuffle pivots to 2018 election, analyst says

Premier Brian Gallant's new cabinet will offer the Liberal government a chance to pivot from a series of controversial decisionsand begin looking toward the 2018 election, according to a political analyst.

Gallant shuffled the majority of his ministers on Monday, elevating two backbenchers into his Liberal cabinet and offering higher profiles to a pair of other ministers.

Rick Doucet saw the new department of Energy and Resource Development, a combination of the former departments of natural resources and energy and mines, added to his existing job of minister of Agriculture, Aquaculture andFisheries.

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Cathy Rogers moved from Social Development to Finance, becoming the first woman in the province's history to hold the position.

Gallant also tapped Lisa Harris, the MLA for Miramichi Bay-Neguac, and John Ames, the MLA from Charlotte-Campobello, to join his cabinet.

In these moves, the premier solidified some potentially vulnerable ridings and moved cabinet ministers, such as Serge Rousselle, Francine Landry and Stephen Horsman, from departments where they were facing controversies.

J.P. Lewis, a political scientist at the University of New Brunswick in Saint John, said the shuffle is just as much about the next election as it is about the day-to-day affairs of government.

"A lot of people now look at politics in Canada as in a permanent campaign that we don't just wait for the writ to drop, that government and parties are always in campaign mode," Lewis said.

"We need to look at any actions that it is not just about the policy and the administrative side, but it is also about the politics."

Spin Reduxit from CBC Radio New Brunswick14:15June 7, 2015: The More English but Not Less French Edition

Dan and Jacques pick over Gallant's cabinet shuffle.

With Caraquet MLA Hdard Albert stepping away from cabinet and the addition of two backbenchers, Gallant's cabinet now has 15 ministers, including the premier.

Doucet in an interview with Information Morning Saint John said on Tuesday that he is keen to delve into the new issues with his added responsibilities.

The long-time Liberal MLA said he thinks a mid-mandate cabinet shake-up will be good for the Gallant government.

"It's good to get some new faces, some fresh ideas and bring some new blood into some of the files and let's keep moving the province forward," he said.

1st female finance minister

Rogers will be coming into the Finance portfolio after herpredecessor, Roger Melanson, announced the final decisions from the strategic program review, including the increase of the harmonized sales tax.

Now, she will be focusing her attention on getting the books ready for the next election campaign.

"We need to be telling our story better and really I have great hope for us. We have made some significant changes in the past year to try to balance our budget to make a plan to have a balanced budget," she said on Information Morning Moncton.

"Part of this is because we are taking a look at both the short term and the long term for financial sustainability."

Information Morning - Saint John7:23Cabinet Shuffle

Fundy-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet has added an extra portfolio in cabinet.

Rogers is a self-described "budget nerd," who said she's looking forward to taking on the high-profile role.

As for being New Brunswick's first female finance minister, Rogers said she appreciates the opportunity to serve and believes she will bring a different viewpoint to the job.

"Of course I will bring a female perspective and we do know that men and women do still have different experiences today as much as we have changed our gender ideologies, we still experience things very differently," she said.

"So of course I look forward to bringing a leadership role to this portfolio."