Premier Tony Wakeham says he decided to separate the Department of Environment from Municipal Affairs as the province prepares for major development once the new Churchill Falls agreement is finalized by the end of the year.

Former Tourism Minister Andrea Barbour was shifted to Environment in yesterday’s cabinet shuffle.

Barbour had captured some negative attention in the tourism role, drawing criticism for her use of ChatGPT and for stumbling through a speech during Memorial Day ceremonies at Beaumont Hamel.

The premier says Barbour is the right person for the environment role.

“If you look at Minister Barbour’s bio, you will see that in her previous life she was involved in the environmental piece and working in the environment, so I think we’ve got a great fit.”

Wakeham says he felt it was important to separate the environment portfolio because of the “tremendous opportunities that will take place” and that environmental impacts and environmental assessments will be a key part in that.