Controversial minister loses health portfolio in N.L. cabinet shuffle

The Newfoundland and Labrador minister who was front and centre during much of the province's breast cancer testing scandalwas removed from the health portfolio during a cabinet shuffle Thursday.

Ross Wiseman is now minister in charge of business, and former business minister Paul Oram will take over the health portfolio.

Wiseman has been health minister for 2 years. During much of that time, he has been dogged by controversy.

Critics have been calling for Wiseman to be shuffled out of health for months as the province coped with mistakes with breast cancer tests, a shortage of specialists and services.

Premier Danny Williams stood by Wiseman for the past 2 years as public confidence dwindled. On Thursday, the premier said Wiseman has taken too many public beatings for problems he inherited as minister.

"Wrongfully, the minister has taken it on the chin sometimes for problems of course that were not caused by him during his term, most of which weren't caused by us before we even came to office," he said.

Wiseman told reporters it's time for a change.

"I'm looking forward to a challenge, looking forward to a new opportunity. I've enjoyed the last 2 years. We've done some really good things as I said, and I've enjoyed it, and now I'm looking forward [to] a new era of my life, a new challenge," he said.

The shuffle comes the same day as new numbers of patients affected by mistakes with breast cancer tests were expected to be released. Wiseman said the shuffle pre-empted the release, and the update will come early next week.

Oram said he found out about his new job a few hours before the shuffle, and the premier said the timing of the shuffle is not related to the update.