Murphy shrugs off talk of possible summer N.B. cabinet shuffle
At the centre of another health-care controversy, Health Minister Michael Murphy says he is not bothered by speculation that he will be moved if Premier Shawn Graham shuffles his cabinet after the legislature rises for the summer.
Murphy's effort to impose a two-year fee freeze on doctors is the latest hot button he's pushed. Since his appointment to the health portfolio in 2006 he has also cut the number of regional health authorities to two from eight and merged the provincial ambulance system.
Murphy said the normal life span for a health minister is two years, so as he comes up to his third year in the job, he said he's accomplished a lot in the busy portfolio.
"Let's be realistic. In the last three years, I've brought in a reform that no one's done in 45 years," Murphy said. "It has stuck. It's been successful."
Murphy declined to speculate if, or where, he might be moved in a rumoured cabinet shuffle. But the successful lawyer has made no secret of the fact that he originally expected to be named minister of justice.
The legislature is expected to wrap up this week for the summer break.
Burke, Lamrock also rumoured to be on the move
Other Liberal cabinet ministers rumoured to be moving to different jobs include Education Minister Kelly Lamrock and Justice Minister T.J. Burke, who have also overseen controversies in their departments.
The speculation comes a few weeks after Graham refused to quash rumours of an early election, even though the province's fixed election date law would have voters heading to the polls in September 2010.
Last week, Saint John Liberal MLA Roly MacIntyre announced that he will not seek re-election. Graham has several MLAs who have not been in the legislature lately because of health issues or have experienced health problems since being elected.
Graham has not shied away from tinkering with his inner circle since being elected in 2006. He has shuffled his cabinet twice, bringing several new MLAs into his executive council.