For years he served as Manitoba's Justice Critic. But, as of this week, the MLA for Steinbach will now sit on the other side of that desk.

On Tuesday, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson introduced her new Cabinet. Steinbach MLA Kelvin Goertzen is now Minister of Justice and Attorney General and Minister responsible for Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) and government house leader.

"It's always a great honour to serve in the provincial Cabinet, no matter what position it is," says Goertzen. "Every position has an importance to somebody in Manitoba."

Goertzen says he has been honoured to wear a number of different hats over the years, including Premier, Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Minister of Education. He says he looks forward to now leading the Justice Department, noting there will be a great deal of learning involved.

Goertzen became Justice Critic shortly after first being elected to office back in 2003. He says he then served in that role for seven or eight years. He recalls the hot issues back then centered around auto theft and gangs. Goertzen adds there was great concern over personal crime and property crime, noting those continue to be challenges today.

"Some of the things never quite go away but do change over time," he adds.

Goertzen says he looks forward to reconnecting and working with the players who are involved on the front lines, including police officers.

"I've had a really good relationship with the local RCMP over the last number of years," says Goertzen. "I know that they do challenging and difficult work often and they often do it in difficult and challenging hours and they do it on our behalf."

Goertzen says he will also need to reconnect with those working in addictions, noting sometimes addiction can lead an individual into an area of crime.

Even though he is educated in law, this is the first time that Goertzen has served as Justice Minister. Goertzen was asked whether this is something he requested of new Premier Heather Stefanson.

"I didn't request it, no," he says. "It's just not been my style generally in times in government. I've never requested a particular role."

Goertzen says he always thinks it is up to the Premier to determine where an MLA fits best. He notes it is not only about where one person is best suited but about putting together a puzzle to ensure that you have people in the right places collectively for the operation of government.

"I've never gone to a Premier and said, this is the position that I want," he admits. "They make an indication to me where I'm going to be and then I serve in the best way that I can there."

This week's Cabinet shuffle was the first major shakeup since Stefanson took over as Premier last year. Goertzen says she wanted to put her own stamp on the Cabinet and so it was a significant shuffle in terms of the number of people moving into different portfolios.

Goertzen says it has now been nearly six years since he first walked into the Cabinet room and admits it is somewhat daunting and a little bit intimidating. He notes they held their first Cabinet meeting already this week and he could sense those same feelings from the new Cabinet ministers.

"But they did great and I'm going to do my best to help them along and I'm sure I'm going to learn from them as well as we go along because they are capable individuals who are going to do a great job," he adds.

Goertzen notes it is great to see new people come in, yet at the same time, he says he is very grateful to have been able to work with outgoing ministers Cathy Cox, Ralph Eichler and Ron Schuler.

"Really appreciative of the folks I have been able to work with," says Goertzen. "Really learned a lot from each of them as well."