A new slate of 27 B.C. cabinet ministers has been sworn in, including some veterans and others who are new to provincial politics.
On Tuesday, Lt.-Gov Janet Austin reappointed David Eby premier of British Columbia and swore in the cabinet ministers and ministers of state.
“This job of serving in government and serving on the executive council is an awesome and serious responsibility. British Columbians call on us to do it with integrity,” Eby said in his speech Monday.
“The good news is, we don’t have to do it on our own. We’re supported by family and friends.”
Several MLAs who led high-profile ministries return to their seats, while others will take on new portfolios within cabinet.
With just 15 of the previous government’s ministers re-elected, a number of cabinet newcomers have been appointed.
This cabinet includes 23 ministers and four ministers of state, the same size as the previous one. Eby pointed out that women make up the majority of this cabinet, with 17 appointed to ministerial positions.
The new B.C. NDP government holds 47 of 93 seats in the legislature. NDP MLAs were sworn into office on Nov. 13.
Returning ministers
Attorney General Niki Sharma will continue in the role for the next four years. She has also been promoted to the role of deputy premier.
Grace Lore and George Chow will continue with their work as minister of children and family development and minister of citizen’s services, respectively. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction Sheila Malcolmson also maintains her position.
Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon will reassume the housing portfolio but will also take on a little extra as the new minister of housing and municipal affairs.
Lana Popham, a farmer and small business owner who served as minister of tourism in Eby’s previous cabinet, has been appointed minister of agriculture and food, a title she held from 2017 until 2022.
The former Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been split into two: former minister of emergency preparedness Bowinn Ma will handle the infrastructure portfolio, and former solicitor general Mike Farnworth will take over as minister of transportation and transit. Farnworth has also been appointed House leader.
Longtime former health minister Adrian Dix, who held the role through the COVID-19 pandemic, is now minister of energy and climate solutions.
Replacing Dix as minister of health is Josie Osborne, who has handled several cabinet portfolios, including municipal affairs; water, land and resource stewardship; and energy, mines and low-carbon innovation.
Vancouver-South Granville MLA Brenda Bailey will leave behind the jobs portfolio and take on the role of minister of finance. Bailey, a former tech executive, will inherit a $9 billion deficit, the largest in provincial history.
Former minister of post-secondary education Lisa Beare is making the move to the Ministry of Education and Child Care, where she’ll handle grade school policies and issues like $10-a-day child care. Replacing her is former municipal affairs minister Anne Kang.
The Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions is no longer a stand-alone ministry. Its former minister, Jennifer Whiteside, has been named minister of labour. Mental health and addictions-related matters will now fall under the Ministry of Health, Eby said, adding there will be a parliamentary secretary of mental health and addiction.
Longtime Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert, who has served as deputy Speaker of the House, will take on the tourism, arts and culture portfolio.
Jagrup Brar, who previously served as minister of state for trade, will take on a new portfolio dedicated solely to mining in B.C.
Parliamentary secretaries turned ministers
Former parliamentary secretary for fisheries and aquaculture, Kelly Greene, has been appointed minister of emergency management and climate readiness — a role that has been heavily relied on in recent years as floods and wildfires continue to displace British Columbians and cause millions of dollars in damage to homes and livelihoods.
Ravi Parmar, former parliamentary secretary for international credentials, takes on a ministerial role in Eby’s new cabinet as minister of forests.
Former parliamentary secretary for technology and the premier’s liaison to Washington state, Port Moody-Burquitlam MLA Rick Glumac, has been appointed minister of state for trade.
The newly created Ministry of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities will be led by Brittny Anderson, the MLA for Kootenay Central and former parliamentary secretary for tourism. Anderson is one of only five NDP MLAs elected outside Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland.
Rookie ministers
Among the other MLAs from outside those regions named to portfolios are Tamara Davidson, the MLA for North Coast-Haida Gwaii, who has 28 years of experience as a public servant and will take on the role of environment minister; and former broadcaster Randene Neill, the Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA, who will take on the water, land and resource stewardship portfolio.
Garry Begg, the longtime MLA for Surrey-Guildford — a riding he won by just 22 votes in October’s election — has been named B.C.’s solicitor general and minister of public safety. Begg served as an RCMP officer for 38 years before being elected MLA in 2017.
Christine Boyle, a former Vancouver city councillor who left that role when she was elected MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain in October, has been tapped as minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation.
Coquitlam-Burke Mountain MLA Jodie Wickens will take on the newly created role of minister of state for child care and children and youth with support needs.
Diana Gibson, who is brand new to provincial politics after being elected in Oak Bay-Gordon Head, will be minister of jobs, economic development and innovation.
Terry Yung, who served as a police officer with the Vancouver Police Department for 30 years before being elected MLA for Vancouver-Yaletown in October, will take on the newly created position of minister of state for community safety and integrated services.