HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s opposition parties say a surprise cabinet shuffle by Premier Tim Houston is the latest sign the provincial government isn’t interested in accountability.
NDP house leader Lisa Lachance says Tuesday’s shuffle — closed to reporters and announced through a news release — is “par for the course” as far as the Progressive Conservative government is concerned.
Interim Liberal leader Derek Mombourquette says the surprise shuffle was calculated to consolidate power in the premier’s office.
As part of the shuffle, Houston named himself minister of energy, while cabinet veterans Becky Druhan and Tory Rushton were dropped entirely.
Mombourquette says such moves leave the government open to speculation whether there are problems within the Tory caucus.
The NDP and Liberals have recently criticized the short eight-day fall sitting of the legislature and several omnibus bills that they said were attempts by the government to avoid scrutiny and accountability.
They say the bills, including one that bans protests on logging access roads, were rammed through the legislature with little debate.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 22, 2025.
