The appointments were announced Friday as the province's Tory government deals with the fallout from its aborted plan to close six emergency rooms overnight.

Premier John Horgan is taking the stand pat approach, adding Burnaby Deer Lake MLA Anne Kang to cabinet while moving Bruce Ralston to Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.

A look at the top stories that could make lots of headlines in 2020.

B.C. Premier John Horgan is expected to shuffle his cabinet for the first time in the new year.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said he offered specific congratulations to the new deputy prime minister, and is interested in Winnipeg MP Jim Carr's new role.

Most notable is the shift of Freeland from foreign affairs to the post of deputy prime minister.

In the 2015 election, the Liberals elected 50 women, and increased that by two in 2019.

Freeland was appointed foreign-affairs minister in January 2017 with one very important marching order: deal with the newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump and keep the North American Free Trade Agreement, and Canada's economy, from being trashed.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister has made major changes to his cabinet by adding two new ministries, renaming some portfolios and changing the mandate of others.

The environment file had been held by Lisa Dempster, also minister of children, seniors and social development, after the former environment minister lost his seat in this spring's election.