Wiseman removed from health portfolio

Premier Danny Williams announced changes to his cabinet today, switching ministers of the health and business portfolios.

Ross Wiseman is now Minister of Business and Paul Oram moves in as the new Minister of Health and Community Services.

The new cabinet ministers were sworn in this morning at a ceremony at Government House in St. John's.

"I would like to welcome these ministers to their new portfolios and wish them well as they take on these new challenges," Williams said.

"I want to thank both ministers Wiseman and Oram for their outstanding work in their previous departments and I look forward to their continued contributions individually as ministers and collectively around the cabinet table."

Wiseman is also the MHA for Trinity North and was first elected in a by-election on April 25, 2000.

Prior to entering political life, he had a 15-year career in health administration with the Peninsulas Health Care Corporation and the former Clarenville Area Hospital Board.

He has extensive experience in the financial services industry, having held several branch and regional management positions throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
Oram is also the MHA for Terra Nova.

Oram previously ran a construction company in Glovertown, and in 1994 received his funeral director's licence. In 1996, he purchased his first funeral home. Since that time, his business interests grew to acquiring an additional funeral home, personal care home facilities, and a travel agency.

Oram was elected to the House of Assembly on Oct. 21, 2003.