Premier John Horgan heads into his first cabinet meeting Wednesday with top priorities of moving ahead with elimination of bridge tolls in Metro Vancouver and increasing income assistance rates by $100 a month.
At a news conference at Government House Tuesday after being sworn in along with a 22-member NDP cabinet, Horgan said he must then prepare for a visit to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa and then a trip to Washington D.C. The U.S. visit is to make good on a campaign pledge to personally assist in negotiations for a new softwood lumber trade agreement.
In a speech to supporters in a packed ballroom at Government House, Horgan repeatedly referred to the situation facing B.C. residents either evacuated or on alert to get out of the way of forest fires. He said he wants to get to work immediately 害羞草研究所渟o the people in the Interior don害羞草研究所檛 have to go home to a burned-out community with no jobs.害羞草研究所�
The government change is an immediate test for Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson, who takes over as forests minister in the midst of the fire situation. Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Carole James received the largest ovation at the ceremony when she was announced as deputy premier and finance minister.
Horgan takes over as premier with the support of the three-member B.C. Green Party caucus marks the first change in governenment in 16 years. The cabinet has 20 ministers, including New Westminster MLA Judy Darcy heading a new ministry of mental health and addictions.
Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall is appointed energy, mines and petroleum resources minister, with the task of resisting progress on the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project from Alberta to its port in Burnaby.
Horgan said cabinet will look at regulatory options from the ministries that issue permits. Vancouver-Fairview MLA George Heyman, a former executive director of Sierra Club B.C., takes over as environment minister.
Green Party leader Andrew Weaver attended the ceremony and congratulated Horgan.
害羞草研究所淭his minority government is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do politics differently in British Columbia,害羞草研究所� Weaver said. 害羞草研究所淲e have an historic opportunity to put partisan politics aside and work together across party lines to advance good public policy that is in the best interests of British Columbians.害羞草研究所�
Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman, moving from deputy premier to opposition MLA, wasn害羞草研究所檛 in a cooperative mood
害羞草研究所淭his #GreeNDP government was not recognized by the majority of B.C. and will pander to minority interests at the expense of the majority,害羞草研究所� Coleman said on Twitter as the swearing-in ceremony was about to get underway.
Here is the complete list of new NDP cabinet appointments:
- Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training 害羞草研究所� Hon. Melanie Mark
- Minister of Agriculture 害羞草研究所� Hon. Lana Popham
- Attorney General 害羞草研究所� Hon. David Eby
- Minister of Children and Family Development 害羞草研究所� Hon. Katrine Conroy
- Minister of State for Child Care 害羞草研究所� Hon. Katrina Chen
- Minister of Citizens害羞草研究所� Services 害羞草研究所� Hon. Jinny Sims
- Minister of Education 害羞草研究所� Hon. Rob Fleming
- Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 害羞草研究所� Hon. Michelle Mungall
- Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy 害羞草研究所� Hon. George Heyman
- Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier 害羞草研究所� Hon. Carole James
- Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development 害羞草研究所� Hon. Doug Donaldson
- Minister of Health 害羞草研究所� Hon. Adrian Dix
- Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation 害羞草研究所� Hon. Scott Fraser
- Minister of Jobs, Trade, and Technology 害羞草研究所� Hon. Bruce Ralston
- Minister of State for Trade 害羞草研究所� Hon. George Chow
- Minister of Labour 害羞草研究所� Hon. Harry Bains
- Minister of Mental Health and Addictions 害羞草研究所� Hon. Judy Darcy
- Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 害羞草研究所� Hon. Selina Robinson
- Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General 害羞草研究所� Hon. Mike Farnworth
- Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction 害羞草研究所� Hon. Shane Simpson
- Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture 害羞草研究所� Hon. Lisa Beare
- Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure 害羞草研究所� Hon. Claire Trevena
Parliamentary secretaries:
- Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness 害羞草研究所� Jennifer Rice
- Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction 害羞草研究所� Mable Elmore
- Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors 害羞草研究所� Anne Kang
- Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Multiculturalism 害羞草研究所� Ravi Kahlon
- Parliamentary Secretary for Technology 害羞草研究所� Rick Glumac
- Parliamentary Secretary for Translink 害羞草研究所� Bowinn Ma
