News > MLA makes it into gov’t.’s inner circle

MLA makes it into gov’t.’s inner circle

Published Tuesday November 18th, 2008 Greg Mulock Brian Kenny was busy sweeping up some sawdust in the basement of his home when the got the call late in the evening of Nov. 10 from Premier Shawn Graham. “He said...’Welcome aboard, and I’ve just appointed you to the two positions,’” said the Liberal Member of the Legislative Assembly for Bathurst, recalling how he got the news that he had madeitintotheprovincialcabinet. Added Mr. Kenny: “I’ve been waiting this for a while. I’m glad I’m here.” He is now the minister of state for seniors, and minister responsible for the non-profit organizations secretariat. He had his first cabinet meeting last Thursday morning, and has been busy getting oriented with his new staff, and getting up to date various files he now oversees. Bathurst has not had a seat in cabinetsinceMarcelleMersereau was MLA in the 1990s. Being in the government’s inner circle traditionally means a stronger presence for Bathurst in Fredericton, in terms of getting support for various projects and endeavours. Mr. Kenny acknowledged that reality, but was low key about having more power to help his riding:“I’m glad now for the city we’re there. It shows that I have a voice in cabinet and I’m very, very enthused about that.” He also acknowledged he now has a balancing act, dividing his time between working on behalf of the province as a minister while still fulfilling his duties as an MLA for this riding. He said this will involve sharing responsibilities with his staff, in order to make sure his constituents are as well as represented when he was backbencher. As for his cabinet responsibilities, Mr. Kenny noted “there’s a lot of intertwining between these departments...I’ll definitely be dealing with a lot of nonprofit sectors and also dealing with anybody that deals with any issues relating to the seniors file, and that’s one that’s close to my heart. We do have an aging population so we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.” He’s taking over the seniors portfolio from a former Bathurst resident and MLA, Eugene Mc- Ginley, who he described as “a personal friend” who’s “going to help me out in the transition so it’s good.” First elected on June 9, 2003, Mr. Kenny was a member of the standing committee on ombudsman, and was the critic for interests relating to the Regional Development Corporation. Reelected on Sept. 18, 2006, he was appointed deputy speaker on Feb. 6, 2007. Born in Bathurst, and a licensed real estate broker since 1995, he is the past president of both the New Brunswick and Greater Bathurst chambers of commerce, and served as co-chair of the Restigouche- Chaleur Economic Task Force. Mr. Kenny was a directorat- large with the Chaleur Regional Development Commission, and is an active member of Rotary International. An avid golfer, he has also been a volunteer with the Canada Games, Meals on Wheels, and several Bathurst festivals. He and his wife, Wendy McParland, have two daughters, Bryanna and Madison. Mr. Kenny was one of three new cabinet ministers appointed in a shuffle announced Nov. 12 by Premier Graham, who said the changes are intended to strengthen the government as it prepares for a new sitting of the legislature, and to bring new voices to the cabinet table in support of the government’s self-sufficiency agenda. Besides Mr. Kenny, the new appointees are Rick Brewer, MLA for Southwest Miramichi, who becomes minister of human resources and minister responsible for aboriginal affairs; and Bernard LeBlanc, MLA for Memramcook-Lakeville- Dieppe, becomes minister of local government. “These three individuals have distinguished themselves as MLAs and as members of caucus and legislative committees,” Mr. Graham said. “They have proven their abilities through hard work for their constituents, and for all New Brunswickers.”