Premier shuffles cabinet, puts emphasis on mining sector

Premier Stephen McNeilshuffled his cabinet Thursday and created a new department that underscores Nova Scotia's mining sector.

The former Department of Natural Resourceswill seeitsgeoscienceand mining division merge with Energy. Thenew department iscalled Energy and Mines and willbe headed by former municipal affairs minister DerekMombourquette, the MLA for Sydney-Whitney Pier.

"Combininggeoscienceand mining with energy makes sense," McNeilsaid in a statement."It's about taking a more cohesive approach to economic development opportunities, on land and offshore."

Timberlea-ProspectMLAIain Rankin was appointed to therenamed Department of Lands and Forestry.

"These changes will also ensure the forestry industry has a more dedicated departmental focus, which will help achieve the necessary balance between sustainably developing our lands and forests and protecting the environment," McNeil said.

Rankin previously held theenvironment file, which willreturnto HantsEast MLA Margaret Miller, who was minister of environment from 2016-2017 and more recently minister of natural resources.

HantsWest MLAChuck Porter, a former Tory who left the party in 2014 and later joined the Liberals,will join cabinet as minister of municipal affairs.

"You know, youjust do your job and maybe one day something will come along," he said."I've been here for over 12 years now, so I've got the call and I'm happy to do my part when asked."

Glace Bay MLAGeoffMacLellanwill lose the energy file, but remains minister of business, trade and Service Nova Scotia.

After McNeil won his second mandate last year, he made sweeping changes to his cabinet.