Some provincial ministers have a new portfolio with some new duties on their plate following a surprise cabinet shuffle Friday.

Eight ministers were assigned to new portfolios, while MHA Scott Reid was sworn in to cabinet as minister responsible for Indigenous Affairs and Reconciliation.

One of the biggest moves involves John Hogan taking over the health portfolio on a full-time basis, with Bernard Davis moving into the role of justice minister.

Government was criticized after Hogan was assigned the role of interim health minister following the retirement of Tom Osborne earlier in the month.

Premier Andrew Furey says having Hogan juggle two major portfolios was never meant to be a long-term measure.

“I mean, who in their right mind across Canada would have a part time health minister?” Furey told reporters on Friday. He says the plan was to make Hogan the full-time health minister right out of the gate, but they needed some time to sort things out and shuffle the cabinet.