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The Public Affairs Update is your weekly insight, perspective and analysis on politics in British Columbia and Canada. This newsletter is brought to you by the largest, and most broadly-based business organization in the province, the BC Chamber of Commerce – the Voice of Business in B.C.
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| Premier Clark names cabinet |
Premier Christy Clark announced her new executive council Friday, June 7. At an event attended by a few hundred invited guests, the premier unveiled a cabinet that will advance her government’s key priorities of economic growth, fiscal restraint, job creation, a review of government services and development of B.C.’s natural gas industry.In March, the B.C. government amended the Auditor General Act to limit future auditor general appointments to single eight-year terms, versus the previous six-year term, with the option of a second six-year term renewal. The next auditor general chosen by the legislative committee will have an eight-year term.Premier Clark will have a 20-member cabinet (18 ministers, one minister of state and the premier herself). The cabinet represents a blend of experienced ministers and a number of newly-elected MLAs.
- Rich Coleman is deputy premier and minister of natural gas development. He also retains responsibility for housing.
- Mike de Jong returns as minister of finance and government house leader.
- Bill Bennett becomes minister of energy and mines and the minister responsible for core review.
- Shirley Bond becomes minister of jobs, tourism and skills training, with responsibility for babour.
- Mary Polak becomes minister of environment.
- Terry Lake becomes minister of health.
- Steve Thomson stays as minister of forests, land and natural resources.
- Newly-elected MLA Suzanne Anton becomes minister of justice and attorney general.
- John Rustad joins cabinet as minister of aboriginal relations and reconciliation.
- Also joining Cabinet are returning MLAs Don McRae (social development and social innovation), Stephanie Cadieux (children and family development), Naomi Yamamoto (minister of state for small business and tourism), and Pat Pimm (agriculture).
New MLAs joining cabinet are Peter Fassbender (education), Amrik Virk (advanced education), Todd Stone (transportation and infrastructure), Andrew Wilkinson (technology, innovation and citizen services), Coralee Oakes (community, sport and cultural development), Teresa Wat (international trade, Asia-Pacific strategy and multicultural development).
Today’s announcement was made at the Port of Vancouver, Canada’s busiest port, to underscore the BC Liberal government’s focus on growing the economy.
The executive council will be officially sworn in in Victoria today. The Premier has indicated that elected officials will return to the Legislature shortly, namely to debate and pass the budget. The Premier is also expected to call a by-election next week, when she will campaign for a seat in Westside-Kelowna.
A list of deputy ministers and detailed ministerial responsibilities will be forthcoming this week. |
| Former Chamber leaders named to cabinet |
Demonstrating the experience and depth of leadership present in the BC Chamber’s network throughout B.C., Premier Clark’s new cabinet includes four former Chamber leaders:
- Bill Bennett, minister of energy and Mines and the minister responsible for core review, was previously first vice-chair of the Board of the BC Chamber of Commerce;
- Coralee Oakes, minister of community, sport and cultural development, was previously executive director of the Quesnel & District Chamber of Commerce;
- Steve Thomson, minister of Forests, land and natural resources, is a former Board chair for the BC Chamber of Commerce; and
- Naomi Yamamoto, the minister of state for small business and tourism, is a former Board chair for the BC Chamber of Commerce.
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| Premier Clark announces parliamentary secretaries |
The Premier also announced the following MLAs as parliamentary secretaries:
- Norm Letnick – parliamentary secretary to the premier for intergovernmental affairs.
- Greg Kyllo – parliamentary secretary for the BC Jobs Plan to the minister of jobs, tourism and skills training.
- Linda Reimer – parliamentary secretary to the minister of community, sport and cultural development for communities.
- Jane Thornthwaite – parliamentary secretary to the minister of education for student support and parent engagement.
- Marc Dalton – parliamentary secretary to the minister of education for the independent school sector.
- Donna Barnett – parliamentary secretary to the minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations for rural development.
- Dan Ashton – parliamentary secretary to the minister responsible for core review.
- Linda Larson – parliamentary secretary to the minister of health for seniors.
- Michelle Stilwell – parliamentary secretary to the minister of health for healthy living.
- Darryl Plecas – parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice and attorney general for crime reduction.
- Laurie Throness – parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice and attorney general for corrections.
- John Yap – parliamentary secretary to the minister of justice and attorney general for liquor policy reform.
- Jordan Sturdy – parliamentary secretary to the minister of transportation and infrastructure for transportation.
- Richard T. Lee – parliamentary secretary for the Asia Pacific Strategy to the minister of international trade and minister responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and multiculturalism.
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| Premier Clark to run in Westside-Kelowna |
| This week, Premier Christy Clark announced that she will run for a seat in the Legislature in the riding of Westside-Kelowna next month. Ben Stewart, who won the riding by 6,000 votes in last month’s election, will give up his seat in order for Clark to call a by-election next week.Stewart was first elected in 2009 and served as a cabinet minister in several portfolios, including agriculture.Premier Clark will establish a second residence in Kelowna and maintain her current home in Vancouver, where her son goes to school.The BC NDP have indicated they will run a candidate in the by-election. |
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This weekly report produced for the BC Chamber of Commerce by Fleishman-Hillard. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information included in this publication as of the date of issue, events and government policies are subject to frequent change. Therefore, the BC Chamber of Commerce and Fleishman-Hillard cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis on the information contained herein.
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