Premier John Horgan announces new cabinet to build a better B.C.
By Nelson Daily Staff
Two seasoned MLA's from the West Kootenay have found a place at the cabinet table of John Horgan's NDP government following a ceremony at Government House in Victoria Tuesday afternoon.
Nelson Creston MLA Michelle Mungall, elected to the BC Legislature in 2009 and Katrine Conroy, first elected in 2005 from Kootenay West, are two of the 10 women named to the 20-minister cabinet.
"Our government will offer families relief from high costs and fees, strengthen services like health care and education, and create good jobs and economic opportunity across B.C.," said Premier John Horgan in the media release.
"We will put people at the heart of everything we do. And we'll work hard to deliver on our commitments to British Columbians."
Horgan was sworn in as British Columbia's 36th premier, along with his cabinet, by Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon. The official transition of power from the Liberals to the NDP takes place after months of political games being played by the Liberals. In the end, Guichon as Horgan to form a government after the B.C. Liberals were defeated in a confidence vote.
The vote was made possible when the NDP joined with Andrew Weaver of the BC Green Party to work together for the next four years.
Horgan, 57, replaces Christy Clark as premier, ending 16 years of Liberal rule in B.C.
Horgan said the new cabinet is made up of 20 ministers and two ministers of state. In addition, six MLAs have been named as parliamentary secretaries. Premier Horgan's cabinet is the first in B.C. history to achieve gender parity, with 10 women named to cabinet and one named minister of state.
Ministerial portfolios reflect the government's focus on making life better for people including a stand-alone Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, a Minister of State for Child Care, and a Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction. The government is also putting a special focus on jobs and opportunity in B.C.'s tech sector.
Mungall takes over the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources portfolio while Conroy is the new Minister of Children and Family Development.
The government includes a mix of new and experienced MLAs and also includes:
- Four ministers and two parliamentary secretaries aged 40 and under
- 10 ministers and parliamentary secretaries who identify as a visible minority
- The first First Nations woman appointed to cabinet
"Starting today, we will deliver a government that works for people. We're going to work hard every day to build a better B.C.," said Horgan.
Members of the Executive Council
- Premier – Hon. John Horgan
- Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training – Hon. Melanie Mark
- Minister of Agriculture – Hon. Lana Popham
- Attorney General – Hon. David Eby
- Minister of Children and Family Development – Hon. Katrine Conroy
- Minister of State for Child Care – Hon. Katrina Chen
- Minister of Citizens' Services – Hon. Jinny Sims
- Minister of Education – Hon. Rob Fleming
- Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources – Hon. Michelle Mungall
- Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy – Hon. George Heyman
- Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier – Hon. Carole James
- Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development – Hon. Doug Donaldson
- Minister of Health – Hon. Adrian Dix
- Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation – Hon. Scott Fraser
- Minister of Jobs, Trade, and Technology – Hon. Bruce Ralston
- Minister of State for Trade – Hon. George Chow
- Minister of Labour – Hon. Harry Bains
- Minister of Mental Health and Addictions – Hon. Judy Darcy
- Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing – Hon. Selina Robinson
- Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General – Hon. Mike Farnworth
- Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction – Hon. Shane Simpson
- Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture – Hon. Lisa Beare
- Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – Hon. Claire Trevena
Parliamentary secretaries
- Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness – Jennifer Rice
- Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction – Mable Elmore
- Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors – Anne Kang
- Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Multiculturalism – Ravi Kahlon
- Parliamentary Secretary for Technology – Rick Glumac
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Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink – Bowinn Ma
