FREDERICTON — Susan Holt has officially taken the reins as head of New Brunswick’s newly elected Liberal government and the first woman to serve as premier.

Holt and 18 cabinet ministers were officially sworn in today at a ceremony in Fredericton.

Cabinet members include Health Minister John Dornan, Education Minister Claire Johnson, Finance Minister René Legacy and Justice Minister Rob McKee.

Francine Landry, member for Madawaska Les Lacs-Edmundston, was sworn in as the first francophone female Speaker of the legislative assembly.

Holt, who was joined at the ceremony by her husband and three young daughters, thanked all the female MLAs elected to the legislative assembly before her.

Holt’s Liberals unseated former Progressive Conservative Premier Blaine Higgs in last month’s provincial election, winning 31 seats in the 49-seat legislature and securing a majority mandate. The Progressive Conservatives now hold 16 seats, while the Green Party has two.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2024.

The Canadian Press