Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen will stay on as Health Minister. His position was not affected by a cabinet shuffle Thursday morning.

Premier Brian Pallister announced he was creating two new departments from a previously combined department. One of the new entities is Indigenous and Northern Relations and the other is Municipal Relations. Gimli MLA Jeff Wharton is the new Municipal Affairs Minister and Agassiz MLA Eileen Clarke is the new Minister of Indigenous and Northern Relations.

Pallister also shuffled some portfolios including naming Ron Schuler the Minister of Infrastructure, replacing Blaine Pederson who moves to the Ministry of Growth, Enterprise and Trade.

The complete list of changes is below:

  • Ron Schuler (MLA for St. Paul) – minister of infrastructure;
  • Cliff Cullen (MLA for Spruce Woods) – minister of Crown services and government house leader;
  • Blaine Pedersen (MLA for Midland) – minister of growth, enterprise and trade;
  • Cathy Cox (MLA for River East) – minister of sport, culture and heritage; and
  • Rochelle Squires (MLA for Riel) – minister of sustainable development and minister responsible for francophone affairs and status of women.

The following ministers remain in their current portfolios:

  • Brian Pallister (MLA for Fort Whyte) – premier and president of the Executive Council; minister of intergovernmental affairs and international relations;
  • Heather Stefanson (MLA for Tuxedo) – minister of justice and attorney general; Keeper of the Great Seal of the Province of Manitoba; deputy premier;
  • Kelvin Goertzen (MLA for Steinbach) – minister of health, seniors and active living;
  • Ralph Eichler (MLA for Lakeside) – minister of agriculture;
  • Cameron Friesen (MLA for Morden-Winkler) – minister of finance; minister responsible for the civil service;
  • Ian Wishart (MLA for Portage la Prairie) – minister of education and training; and
  • Scott Fielding (MLA for Kirkfield Park) – minister of families.

Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen keeps a portfolio he has held for 16 months, when the average length of time for a Health Minister in Canada is 18 months.

"I've always said that I serve at the pleasure of the Premier and with permission of my family," says Goertzen. "At this moment in time I still have both. If obviously either of those would change then the perspective would change as well."

In fact, Goertzen says he regularly checks in with his wife and son just to make sure they are all on board with his political responsibilities.

Goertzen notes the Health portfolio is intense, making up nearly half the budget in this province. But he says it is also very rewarding.

"There is something about that sort of daily intensity that drives you," he says. "Certainly I definitely feel I have the energy and the drive."