A new MLA and cabinet minister describes her first legislative session as a rollecoaster. Eileen Clarke, the MLA for Agassiz and Minister of Indigenous and Municipal Relations says she's been incredibly busy, with both the work on the provincial budget, as well as meeting with community leaders across the province. Despite being busy, Clarke notes her staff ensured it was a stress free experience. She adds her meetings across the province have also resulted in a real sense of optimisim, when it comes to the future of the province.

"Having worked in the department for eight weeks now, it was definitely a very, very good decision. The meetings I've had to date, with indigenous community leaders, chiefs and councils, and municipalities, have been very positive. There's a very strong willingness and commitment to move forward working together."

Clarke's one of 12 MLAs appointed to the Progressive Conservative's cabinet, a reduction from the 19 cabinet positions under the NDP. She says she was surprised to learn that she'd been given a position in the cabinet, but notes her experience with the Association of Manitoba Municipalities, as well as her time as a mayor definitely gave her a great head start in her portfolio.

"It's a very strong platform to move forward into this position. It's very honourable to move from vice-president of AMM and mayor of Gladstone to being a minister. I had no pre-conceived ideas of what it would be like, because I wasn't expecting to be one of the 12 cabinet ministers. The scope of work is very intensive, but of course we're learning too, there's a very steep learning curve."

With one legislative session under her belt, Clarke's looking forward to the future. She notes she's taking it a little bit at a time, rather than focusing on the remainder of the four year term. However, she says she's definitely looking forward to spending some time meeting with people, now that the government's not sitting for the duration of the summer.

"It's going to be a very busy three months working within my constituency, that has to be a priority for me as well. I'll also be continuing a lot of meetings in Winnipeg at the legislature, with a lot of people and groups I haven't had an opportunity to meet with. I had to postpone a lot of meetings because of our budget process."

Clarke hopes to wrap up those meetings before the legislative session begins in the fall. While meetings will take a lot of time this summer, Clarke says she's also looking forward to meeting with constituents at a number of events, both within Agassiz, and across the province.