Twila Grosse becomes first Black woman appointed to cabinet as Houston makes some changes ahead of the fall meeting of the house

Nova scotia made some historic changes to its cabinet today, as Premier Tim Houston appointed three new ministers.

Newly elected MLA of Preston, Twila Grosse, was named the Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and Minister of the Public Service Commission. The appointment marks the first time an African Nova Scotian woman has served as a member of cabinet.

Twila Grosse is sworn in as Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs and Minister of the Public Service Commission (Courtesy of Communications Nova Scotia).

“It means a lot. And of course, sometimes being the first in something people always think about the glamour and the glitz of it, but on the other side, I mean, there’s a lot of responsibility that comes with being first,” said Grosse.

Along with Grosse’s appointment, Houston also nominated Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane as the next speaker of the house. If MacFarlane is voted in when the house convenes on October 12, she would become the first woman to be named speaker in the province’s history.

Houston says he believes Grosse and MacFarlane are more than up to the task and feels they will do an incredible job. He said the only question is why these changes didn’t happen sooner.

“The fact that it’s taken the province over 175 years to have an African Nova Scotian woman at the decision making table, and over 175 years to have a woman nominated as a speaker of the house, it’s surprising for sure that it’s taken that long, but we’re going to make up for it now,” said Houston.

MacFarlane previously served as minister of community services, minister responsible for L’nu affairs, and the minister responsible for the advisory council on the status of women act. With her likely transition to the speaker of the house, Houston named two more new ministers to the cabinet.

In addition to Grosse, Eastern Shore MLA Kent Smith was appointed as the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and Richmond MLA Trevor Boudreau joins cabinet as the Minister of Community Services and Minister responsible for L’nu Affairs. MacFarlane will assist Boudreau at the Department of Community Services until the House of Assembly resumes.

On top of the three new additions, Houston made a few changes with his existing cabinet ministers who will fill in some of the gaps left by outgoing ministers Pat Dunn and Steve Craig who resigned from their roles but will continue to serve as MLAs.

Allan MacMaster becomes minister of communities, culture, tourism and heritage, while retaining his current responsibilities. Barbara Adams becomes the minister responsible for military relations and Jill Balser becomes the minister responsible for the advisory council on the status of women.