Ernest Fage has been named the new Minister of Energy for the province of Nova Scotia, following a complete cabinet re-shuffle by Prime Minister John Hamm. Fage had been the Minister of Natural Resources and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries. His family owns Fage Farms Ltd. in Hastings and Nappa, Canada, which produces milk, beef and grains for export. He was first elected to the Nova Scotia legislature in a 1997 by-election, then was re-elected in 1998 and 1999. Fage replaces Gordon Balser, who has become Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, with responsibility over the Public Service Commission. Fage had co-chaired a working group with Balser last year, which created Nova Scotia’s energy strategy. One of the recommendations had been the creation of the Department of Energy, which Balser first took over in June 2002. Fage will be the second person to hold the title with Balser’s move.

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