Selinger shuffles cabinet: Oswald asked to come back, says no

When Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger invited rebel Theresa Oswaldto come back to cabinet on Wednesday, she said no.

Speaking to the CBC, Oswaldcalled theconversation she had with the premier"positive and constructive," but said she is still deliberating about her future, "political and otherwise."

"So my decision to decline the offer [on Wednesday]had everything to do with the fact that I'm still going through that deliberation," she said.

"And really because of...the knowledge that some of my colleagues are very certain about their path forward, it was really important to me that they have an opportunity to showcase their talents."

Oswald acknowledges Selinger was not obligated to invite her back to cabinet, and that he had a number of options to choose from.

"I'm not sure I'd use the word surprised," she said of the invitation.

"He has given signals that he wants to ensure that we're a unified team...But he was also very respectful of the reasons I gave."

Despite pastturmoil within the party that involved Oswald, she says she will backthe NDP going forward, and that she will continue to communicate with Selinger.

"I have said to the premier that I'm keenly interested in offering support to any of the new cabinet ministers," she said.

"The premier asked me to keep the door open and that we would keep our lines of communication open on this subject of cabinet and I agreed to that."

Ultimately, Oswaldmade a decision that took her family into account.

"It's a conversation that comes up frequently in our household," she said.

"My son has never known mommy not to be involved in politics. I want to consider him carefully. And my husband, too."

Selinger shuffled his cabinet Wednesday afternoon,following a leadership challenge that he barely survived On March 8, he was re-elected afterlosingfive top cabinet ministers in 2014when they resigned after calling for him to step down.

None of the ministers who opposed him or spoke out against him have been reinstated to cabinet, andOswald was the onlyrebelasked to come back.

"There was an offer made to Theresa Oswald and I deeply respect her reasons for deciding not to proceed at this time," Selinger said. He wouldn't say what portfolio was on offer, nor would Oswald.

"We did talk about some specifics, but he did ask me to keep some of the details private and so I need to respect that," she said.

"I just wanted her to be the one that we kept options open for the future as well," Selinger said of Oswald.

Steve Ashton, who also ran for the leadership of the party, is back in cabinet as minister of infrastructure and transportation and minister responsible for emergency services.

"There were divisions. Ithink we're all very clear in terms of that, but we've seen some significant steps in terms of partyunity," Ashton said,

The rest of the shuffle went as follows:

• KerriIrvin-Rossis deputy premier
• Drew Caldwell is now minister responsible for relations with the City of Winnipeg
• Gord Mackintosh, minister of justice and attorney general
• Tom Nevakshonoff is new to cabinet as minister of conservation and water stewardship
• Mohinder Saran is also new to cabinet as minister of housing and community development
• James Allum has been shuffled out of justice and is back as minister of education

Selingerrewarded loyalist backbencherSaran who delivered more than 100 delegates to the premier.

Peter Bjornson, who was minister of education, is out of cabinet. He said he will not be running in the next provincial election.

"Peter has been an excellent minister, good friend and strong voice for the people of Manitoba," said Selinger, in a statement.

On March 8,Selingerwon a leadership contest by just 33 votes.

• Manitoba NDP leadership: Greg Selinger re-elected, remains premier