Belliveau joins lean NDP cabinet

By KATHY JOHNSON

Shelburne County MLA Sterling Belliveau will be wearing two cabinet hats in the province’s first NDP government.

Belliveau was appointed Minster of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Minster of the Environment by Premier Darrell Dexter on Friday.

With a fishing background both on the water and in the boardroom, along with three years in the legislature as fisheries critic, Belliveau said he “feels very capable with the fisheries portfolio. Basically it’s a lifetime dream,” he said in an interview following the swearing in ceremony at the Cunard Centre.

Belliveau said the next few weeks will be “whirlwind” as he gets familiarized with his roles and responsibilities. “I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Belliveau. “There’s a multitude of issues in the fishery that need addressed. The industry wants transparency and clarity on what’s coming down from Ottawa. I definitely want to set up a good line of communication with the federal fisheries minister and work through some of these issues.”

Belliveau also said he wants to involve the provincial fisheries critics from the other two political parties once they are appointed in the problem solving process. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity and I’m looking forward to the challenge,” said Belliveau

The Dexter cabinet is comprised of 12 MLAs, who will be responsible for some 42 portfolios. "This first cabinet is small and focused on the immediate tasks at hand, yet representative of every major part of Nova Scotia," said Premier Dexter. "People living along country roads, in villages, towns and large urban areas will be heard."

Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis swore in the 12-member Executive Council, marking the first time a Nova Scotia cabinet was sworn in by an African Nova Scotian.