Battle for BC: Premier Eby Names New Cabinet
British Columbia Premier David Eby introduced his new cabinet yesterday after last month’s tight re-election win. With seven former ministers not seeking re-election and five losing their seats, we knew there would be a number of new faces sitting at the cabinet table.
The size of the cabinet remains the same with 23 Ministers and four Ministers of State. However, there are now more women than men in cabinet and five new portfolios.
Last week, Premier Eby said his cabinet and government would be tasked with kitchen-table issues, including affordability, health care, public safety, housing, and the economy. In a news release Premier Eby explains key portfolios are being filled by people with relevant professional and community experience to bring real-world perspective to tackling the big issues.
New Ministries
B.C.’s longest serving Health Minister, Adrian Dix, has a new assignment. The veteran MLA becomes the Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, a new ministry meant to leverage B.C.’s strength as a clean-energy producer.
This breaks apart the former ministry and gives Mining and Critical Minerals to Jagrup Brar whose mandate is expected to focus on advancing the critical minerals projects that are essential to growing the clean economy.
Ravi Kahlon is holding on to the housing portfolio, but in a new ministry that adds municipal affairs. The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs is responsible for community charters and other local government policy and legislation. This may prove advantageous for Kahlon who has faced pushback from municipal leaders on provincial housing targets.
Infrastructure is now a standalone ministry with Bowinn Ma at the helm. The new portfolio brings capital planning and procurement into a single ministry, with the aim of better coordination at a time when government is building schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure to support growing communities.
Mike Farnworth is still the Government House Leader, a role he’s had since the NDP took power, but is no longer the Deputy Premier or Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Farnworth is, instead, taking on the new Ministry of Transportation and Transit. This refocused ministry is designed to deliver on major projects such as the George Massey Tunnel replacement and new Patullo bridge, but with a greater emphasis on delivering transit projects.
New Ministers
A former broadcast journalist will be on the other side of the microphone as Randene Neill becomes the new Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship. It’s a large and contentious portfolio for the first-time MLA who represents Powell River-Sunshine Coast.
Tamara Davidson is another rookie MLA who received a cabinet posting. The first Haida woman elected to the B.C. Legislature, Davidson is the Minister of Environment and Parks. With CleanBC now under Energy and Climate Solutions, Davidson will have a greater focus on parks.
The only NDP MLA to avoid the conservative sweep in Richmond, Kelly Greene will represent the area as the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
Veteran NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert makes his cabinet debut as the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. First elected in a by-election in 2008, the MLA for Vancouver-West End is being rewarded for his years of service.
Ravi Parmar has gone from Chief of Staff to a Minister to a Minister himself. Parmar was first elected in a by-election when the late John Horgan retired from politics. Yesterday he was appointed Minister of Forests.
Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation will be led by Diana Gibson, a Victoria based entrepreneur who co-founded Canada’s largest Indigenous-owned consulting firm.
Returning Ministers
Niki Sharma continues in her role as Attorney General but adds Deputy Premier to her title.
After a narrow win in Surrey-Guildord, Garry Begg was sworn in as the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. The former RCMP officer is another example of the Premier appointing MLAs with relevant professional experience.
One of the most versatile members of cabinet is moving to the largest portfolio. Josie Osborne is taking over as Minster of Health, which now includes Mental Health and Addictions.
The former co-founder of Canada’s first women-owned and operated video game studio, Brenda Bailey, will tackle cost-of-living challenges in her new role as Minister of Finance.
With Municipal Affairs now combined with Housing, Anne Kang is moving to the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. She’ll hold on to part of her previous role though with immigration settlement services moving from Municipal Affairs to Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
After defeating the leader of the BC Green Party, Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA, Grace Lore, remains the Minister of Children and Family Development.
There’s no change in Citizens Services with George Chow staying on as Minister.
Sheila Malcolmson holds on to her posting as Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
Rachna Singh’s defeat in Surrey-Green Timbers left a vacancy in the Ministry of Education and Child Care.
Lisa Beare is stepping into the role after serving as the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
With the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions now folded into the Health Ministry, the former head of the Hospital Employee’s Union Jennifer Whiteside has a new post as the Minister of Labour.
Lana Popham will return to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, a portfolio she is intimately familiar with after serving as both opposition critic and Minister.
Ministers of State
Two-term MLA for Nelson-Creston Brittny Anderson was sworn in as the Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, a promotion from her previous role as a Parliamentary Secretary.
Rick Glumac is also moving up, he was the Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and is now the Minister of State for Trade.
New MLA and former Vancouver police inspector Terry Yung will serve as Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services.
Jodie Wickens is the new Minister of State for Child Care and Children and Youth with Support Needs.
Parliamentary Secretaries
The cabinet will be supported in its work by the following 14 parliamentary secretaries:
Parliamentary Secretary for Anti-Racism Initiatives: Jessie Sunner
Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture: Harwinder Sandhu
Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity: Jennifer Blatherwick
Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development: Steve Morissette
Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care: Susie Chant
Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health: Debra Toporowski
Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Addictions: Amna Shah
Parliamentary Secretary for Asia Pacific Trade: Paul Choi
Parliamentary Secretary for Labour: Darlene Rotchford
Parliamentary Secretary for International Credentials: Sunita Dhir
Parliamentary Secretary for Accessibility: Dana Lajeunesse
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-profits: Joan Phillip
Parliamentary Secretary for Transit: George Anderson
Parliamentary Secretary for Arts and Film: Nina Krieger
Staffing Shuffles
Deputy Ministers and Chiefs of Staff were also announced yesterday by an Order in Council. Notably, Jim Rutkowski has been appointed to a six-month term as Chief of Staff in the Office of the Premier. He has been seconded from his role as Deputy Minister of Government Communications and Public Engagement (GCPE), where he leads strategic communications across government. Rutkowski brings extensive experience in senior leadership roles, including as Chief of Staff to Carole James during her tenure as Opposition Leader and Principal Secretary to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.
Earlier this month the government announced after two years of service, Matt Smith, would transition out of his role as Chief of Staff. Smith will remain in the Premier's Office until December 20, serving as an advisor during the transition.
Next Steps
The legislature is expected to sit before Christmas to elect a Speaker. The NDP has re-nominated Raj Chouhan as Speaker, along with Mable Elmore as Deputy Speaker.
Detailed mandate letters aren’t expected until the new year as Premier Eby continues discussions with the BC Green Party on how the two will work together, which could have an impact on the priorities and focus of this new cabinet.
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