Rankin moving Liberals into transition, names Whalen as team lead – TheChronicleHerald.ca

While most Nova Scotians were digging out Monday, Iain Rankin was digging in for his role as the next premier of the province.

Its a different feeling for sure, Rankin said of winning the Liberal leadership at Saturdays convention and being vaulted into the premier-in-waiting status.

There is a bit of weight on my shoulders but I am also very happy.

Happiness evolved into getting down to work on Sunday and Monday.

Mostly checking in and getting back to many of them who have reached out to me, Rankin said of the other 25 Liberal MLAs in caucus. I do want to make sure that unity is a focus and the transition team will begin meeting tomorrow (Tuesday).

Diana Whalen, the Liberal MLA for the Clayton Park area from 2003 to 2017 and a former minister of finance and justice in the Stephen McNeil government, will chair the transition team.

Well announce the other folks who are going to join the team and well be working every day to think about departmental structure and cabinet appointments,Rankin said. Shortly after that, well be looking at the throne speech and getting ready for the (legislative) sessions.

Rankin said after his victory Saturday night that he has a great deal of respect for Randy Delorey and Labi Kousoulis, the respective MLAs for Antigonish and Halifax Citadel-Sable Island whom he outpointed to win the leadership. He said he would welcome both into cabinet positions.

Both Labi and Randy will be a strong part of my team, Rankin said Saturday when he met with media after his victory.

Its a different feeling for sure. There is a bit of weight on my shoulders but I am also very happy.

Iain Rankin, next N.S. premier

I will be looking for strong candidates that believe in the vision that I put forward, that I think Nova Scotians, by and large, want to see next, a strong population growth and a strong economic performance. Now is the time we start taking the the next step to help grow our economy back stronger, more inclusive and more low-carbon.

Rankin said he sees no signs of fracturing in the party despite the long leadership campaign and the close race between himself and Kousoulis.

Were a strong party and we all believe in the values of moving forward and helping people that need it the most, he said.

This is the next evolution of our party and those who are not offering are friends of mine and I wish them well in their future endeavours, Rankin said Saturday night of six Liberal MLAs -- Geoff MacLellan, Karen Casey, Leo Glavine, Gordon Wilson, Margaret Miller and Bill Horne -- who have announced that they will not reoffer in the next election.

Many of them have served long before I came to the legislature (2013).

Rankin said the transition period generally takes about two weeks and McNeil will be on board during that period.

Then well have the swearing in happen somewhere in that one- or two-week period of time.

McNeil is to visit with Lt.-Gov. Arthur J. LeBlanc and Rankin will make a similar visit Tuesday.

Things start rolling every day after that, Rankin said.

Monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic carefully is top of mind for Rankin.

Ive already talked to Dr. (Robert) Strang (provinces chief medical officer of health) and well be managing that very closely and at the same time looking at a strong economic recovery with strategic investments that came out of my platform, bringing in more renewable energy and really focusing on growing jobs across the province.

An economic growth council is something Ill be putting together in short order with business leaders and really focusing on how we rebound back strongly.

Rankin said Saturday that an election call is not an immediate priority.

Up until today I was focused on winning this race, Rankin said Saturday. Now, Im turning my attention to meeting with the leaders of the opposition to see where we have some mutual areas of interest. Were going to go into this legislative session with an ambitious agenda.

Then well start to look at whats next for our government.

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Rankin moving Liberals into transition, names Whalen as team lead - TheChronicleHerald.ca