Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew brings 3 new ministers into cabinet in minor shuffle

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is shuffling his cabinet just over a year after his government was sworn in, splitting some responsibilities, creating new departments and swapping ministers among portfolios. 

The province is expanding its cabinet, welcoming three MLAs to the premier's inner circle.

"We're responding to some of the areas that we've seen some good success … and we're just going to lean into growing," Kinew told reporters at a scrum Wednesday.

He's growing the size of cabinet "in response to where the talent around the table would lead us and to where your needs as the people of the province demand us to be."

The premier now has 17 MLAs around his cabinet table, and among the new faces is River Heights MLA Mike Moroz, who will be responsible for the newly created Department of Innovation and New Technology.

Kinew told reporters a big responsibility of the portfolio would be to ensure Manitobans who work in the tech industry stay in the province by creating opportunities with businesses and designing an intellectual property strategy that contributes to the economy. 

The new department will also work at modernizing government services and improving customer experience, he added. 

Moroz, who used to work as a teacher, said his portfolio will track AI developments to make sure "Manitobans are protected from some of the downsides and have the benefits of the upsides" from the emerging technology. 

Another fresh face in cabinet is Assiniboia MLA Nellie Kennedy who takes over from Glen Simard as minister of sport, culture, heritage and tourism. 

Kennedy is the first Muslim woman to be appointed to Manitoba's cabinet, and as she assumes her new post, the minister said she's reflecting on how the decision of her grandparents to move from the Middle East to Hodgson, Man., paved her way to serve in the premier's inner circle.

"It's pretty remarkable, two Muslim people from the Middle East who decided [to live] where no one was like them, no one followed the same religion," she said. 

"I'm thankful that they made these choices … so that I could be here today."

Simard is assuming the Municipal and Northern Relations portfolio while staying on as minister of francophone affairs and the minister responsible for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.

Maples MLA Mintu Sandhu is also joining cabinet as the minister of delivery of public services. That file was previously assumed by Lisa Naylor, who will remain as the minister of transportation and infrastructure.