In this week’s cabinet shuffle Moncton South MLA Cathy Rogers was promoted from Minister of Social Development to Minister of Finance.
Congrats to Canada’s newest FinMin, New Brunswick’s @RogersAtMoncton! Looking forward to working with you.
— Bill Morneau (@Bill_Morneau) June 6, 2016
She becomes the first woman to hold that role and was flattered to be chosen.
Cathy Rogers @ROGERSatMoncton, elected in 2014, will become New Brunswick’s first female minister of Finance. https://t.co/jqJ87peOc0
— Women NB (@WomenNB) June 6, 2016
“Going from Minister of Social Development to a smaller department, but a very powerful department in terms of leadership,” says Rogers. “So how does it feel? I’m very honoured, and humble and grateful to be appointed.”
She is the first woman to become a finance minister in the province and Rogers says this is in line with the Premier Brian Gallant’s commitment to put women in positions of responsibility.
“So he’s been very, very active making women carry their fair share of positions in agencies, boards and commissions,” says Rogers.
NDP Leader Dominic Cardy has accused the Premier of making a big mistake giving Rogers this role because he feels the way she handled the seniors file last year was a total disaster.
She disagrees.
“Would they have me not listen to people? We had announced an intention to change a policy to make the long term care system more affordable and more sustainable,” says Rogers. “However, we listened to people and we pulled that policy back.”
The Social Development portfolio has been broken into two and responsibilities will be divided between the Minister Responsible for Seniors and Long term care, and the Minister of of Family and Community Services.
