P.E.I. cabinet shuffle: political pundits weigh in

Sudden but not surprising is how P.E.I. Premier WadeMacLauchlan'scabinet shuffle is being perceived by some political pundits in the province

• P.E.I. cabinet shuffle: Tina Mundy, Robert Henderson in, Hal Perry out
• P.E.I. cabinet shuffle key to driving province forward, says Premier Wade MacLauchlan
• P.E.I. cabinet shuffle 'reflects disarray in government': Opposition

Eight months into his first mandate, Premier Wade MacLauchlan announced a re-jigging of his key cabinet ministers, including health and education portfolios.

Hal Perry was replaced as Education minister by Doug Currie, who held the health portfolio for more than four years.Currie's old job in Health and Wellness went to Rob Henderson, who had been Tourism minister under Robert Ghiz.And Tina Mundy takes charge of Family and Human Services.

"There was a general consensus sort of in the back rooms that Hal Perry was simply not performing as Education minister," newspaper publisher and commentator Paul MacNeill told CBC News: Compass host Bruce Rainnie.

"That he wasn't up to speed on the file, that he wasn't selling the transformation [of P.E.I.'s education system] well enough, and that change was necessary."

Currie'steady', butcarries baggage

Holland College journalism instructor Rick MacLeansaidCurrie "has a history and will be unpopular with some."

But if the premier is looking for someone who's steady and experienced enough to guide the changes coming in education, MacLean said "you can see why he might pick Currie."

MacNeill's take on Currie's appointment was a little more pointed.

"Doug Currie who has a very lengthy and questionable record in the Ministry of Education, as well as the appointment of Robbie Henderson to Health, where it appears that the government is rewarding whining with a ministerial appointment that accounts for 43 per cent of our provincial budget."

When the shuffle was announced this morning, MacNeill didn't pull any punches with his opinion on P.E.I's new Health minister.

"It's clear that the premier put geography over competency. He could have made Jordan Brown minister of Education. A lot of people are looking at Jordan Brown as someone who should be in cabinet, but that would have alienated West Prince even more."

MacNeill also criticized Henderson's performance in his stint as Tourism minister, and the province's spending of approximately $30 million on PEI 2014 celebrations.

As for appointing the clearly disgruntled Henderson, who often questioned his own government from the back benches in 2015, MacLean said Henderson's previous cabinet experience probably helped.

Potential seen for Mundy

Both commentators were upbeat about Tina Mundy's potential to succeed in her new portfolio.

"Well I think he [the premier] sees some sort of potential there," said MacLean. "He thinks that she's bright, that she's capable, she's obviously new."

MacLean said MacLauchlan also had to balance gender and geographic representation in his appointments, and Mundy fit the bill.

"And I think he's been simply waiting for the opportunity to bring her out of the doghouse and get her back into cabinet in some fashion or other."

MacNeill added some people thought Mundy was short-changed when she was dumped from cabinet after just one day, when property tax issues came to light.

"She has a compelling narrative," said MacNeill. "I think Tina will be one who will be looked at not so much in this portfolio, but if she gets through it, if she performs well, she can take on bigger tasks."