Over two dozen MLAs have been appointed to the Government of British Columbia’s new cabinet, a month after the provincial election that saw the BC NDP securing a majority government.
Premier David Eby made the announcement today, naming 23 ministers, four ministers of state, and five different ministries from the consolidation or division of previous ministries, creating the new separate ministries of Energy and Climate Solutions, Housing and Municipal Affairs, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Mining and Critical Minerals.
There has also been a substantial rearranging of the chairs, as nearly a quarter of the previous cabinet ministers did not seek re-election.
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs has now merged with the Ministry of Housing, becoming the new expanded Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, with Ravi Kahlon holding the position of minister overseeing housing and the provincial government’s relationship with municipal governments. Anne Kang, who was previously the Minister of Municipal Affairs, is now the Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.
Another notable change is the division of the previous Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure into two entities. This ministry was previously led by Rob Fleming, who did not run for re-election.
The newly created Ministry of Transportation and Transit focuses on how people move, with a renewed emphasis on public transit. It will lead major projects such as the widening of Highway 1 in the Lower Mainland, the Surrey-Langley SkyTrain extension, and the new replacements of the Pattullo Bridge and George Massey Tunnel.
Mike Farnworth, previously the public safety minister, is now the Minister of Transportation and Transit, in addition to his new role as the House Leader.
Bowinn Ma will take on the role of the new Minister of Infrastructure, focusing on bringing capital planning and procurement into a single ministry to allow for better coordination at a time when the government is making major investments in building new and improved schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure. This comes at a time when the provincial government is struggling with drastic cost increases for such projects, with costs creeping upwards by the billions for some of the largest projects originally planned before the pandemic-induced inflationary cycle. Ma was previously the Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, which is now a role held by Kelly Greene.
The creation of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Ministry of Infrastructure, coupled with their different responsibilities, appears to follow recommendations made by activists and municipal officials — who jointly made their case in a Daily Hive Urbanized op-ed — and industry stakeholders.
Adrian Dix, one of BC’s most prominent politicians for his role in leading the province through the pandemic health crisis, has been reshuffled to the new role of Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, which is responsible for climate action, electricity, alternative energy, and petroleum resource sectors. Josie Osborne is now the Minister of Health.
Diana Gibson is now the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, replacing Brenda Bailey, who is now the new Minister of Finance.
Jennifer Whiteside is the new Minister of Labour, moving away from her previous role as the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. There is no longer a dedicated ministry for this role, with Amna Shah becoming the new Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health and Addictions.
Niki Sharma will continue to the BC’s Attorney General, in addition to her new responsibility as Deputy Premier. Also, Sheila Malcolmson is still the Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction.
Former police officers Gary Begg and Terry Yung will serve as the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General and the Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services, respectively.
Christine Boyle, who will be resigning from her role as Vancouver city councillor over the coming weeks, is the new Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
Other notable appointments include Spencer Chandra Herbert as the new Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, replacing Lana Popham, who is now the Minister of Agriculture and Food. Lisa Beare is the new Minister of Education and Child Care.
Jagrup Brar is leading the new Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, with the responsibility for overseeing 17 new critical minerals projects and the mining strategy.
Former Global BC reporter Randene Neill is the new Minister of Water, Land and Resources Stewardship.
In the announcement, Eby stated the new cabinet positions and appointments are intended to better directly address BC’s most pressing challenges, including the top priorities of improving affordability, living costs, the economy, and healthcare.
“These are big challenges and tackling them all will take time. Getting there will take listening and learning from British Columbians of different perspectives,” said Eby.
“While British Columbians may sometimes disagree, we all want the same basic things in life — a good paycheque, a home we can afford in a safe community and high-quality health care that’s there when we need it. By working together on these common challenges, we can build a brighter future for everyone.”
- Full list of ministers:
- Premier: David Eby
- Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities: Brittny Anderson
- Agriculture and Food: Lana Popham
- Attorney General and Deputy Premier: Niki Sharma
- Children and Family Development: Grace Lore
- Citizens’ Services: George Chow
- Education and Child Care: Lisa Beare
- Minister of State for Child Care and Children and Youth with Support Needs: Jodie Wickens
- Emergency Management and Climate Readiness: Kelly Greene
- Energy and Climate Solutions: Adrian Dix
- Environment and Parks: Tamara Davidson
- Finance: Brenda Bailey
- Forests: Ravi Parmar
- Health: Josie Osborne
- Housing and Municipal Affairs: Ravi Kahlon
- Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Christine Boyle
- Infrastructure: Bowinn Ma
- Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation: Diana Gibson
- Minister of State for Trade: Rick Glumac
- Labour: Jennifer Whiteside
- Mining and Critical Minerals: Jagrup Brar
- Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills: Anne Kang
- Public Safety and Solicitor General: Garry Begg
- Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services: Terry Yung
- Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Sheila Malcolmson
- Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Spencer Chandra Herbert
- Transportation and Transit and House Leader: Mike Farnworth
- Water, Land and Resource Stewardship: Randene Neill
- Premier: David Eby
- Full list of 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 Morisette
- 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