Now, for the most exciting political event since the BC Election: The new BC Liberal Cabinet.
Pundits have been saying that because of the influx of new cabinet material paired with a lack of movement of old cabinet ministers, Campbell has had to make a few hard choices. So let’s see what’s happened here.
First of all, Linda Reid, Ron Cantelon and Joan McIntyre from the previous cabinet have been dropped. Joan McIntyre probably had to move over to make for fellow Northern Vancouverite Naomi Yamamoto’s rise to cabinet. Linda Reid is finally being punished for the booster seat scandal.
There are also eight new cabinet ministers: the aforementioned Naomi Yamamoto, Kash Heed, Margaret MacDiarmid, Ben Stewart, Moira Stilwell, Steve Thomson, Mary McNeill, John Yap and Randy Hawes.
It looks like BC’s North took quite a few hits for this cabinet. Shirley Bond of Prince George has been demoted from Deputy Premier and Minister of Education to Minister of Transport. Considering that Health has been Bond’s only non-educational portfolio, this new assignment should be… interesting. Replacing her as Deputy Premier is southern, and male Colin Hansen (this is considering that all of Campbell’s previous Deputy Premiers have been female). As well, I am surprised that Donna Barnett, a northerner that barely won to take away New Democrat Charlie Wyse’s seat away from him, didn’t get a cabinet position.
Mary Polak, famous for banning books that dealt with same sex couples while she was a school board trustee, has been promoted to Minister of Children and Families. Then again, Children and Families tends to be a good place to destroy political careers in BC.
Kevin Falcon got a promotion to become Minister of Health. I can only hope that he doesn’t treat sick people like he treats forestry workers losing their jobs (his opinion on the subject? “Boo-hoo”).
So overall, this cabinet is one that reduces representation of Northern British Columbians, brings in new recruits, and seems to put those interested in the BC Liberal leadership (cough* Colin Hansen and Kevin Falcon *cough) in a visible position.
Campbell’s New Cabinet, June 10 2009.
Naomi Yamamoto
Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations
George Abbott
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Moira Stilwell
Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development
Steve Thomson
Minister of Agriculture and Lands
Mike de Jong
Attorney General
Mary Polak
Minister of Children and Family Development
Minister Responsible for Child Care
Ben Stewart
Minister of of Citizens’ Services
Bill Bennett
Minister of Community and Rural Development
Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid
Minister of Education and Minister responsible for Early Learning and Literacy
Blair Lekstrom
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
Randy Hawes
Minister of State for Mining
Barry Penner
Minister of Environment
John Yap
Minister of State for Climate Action
Colin Hansen
Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier
Pat Bell
Minister of Forests and Range
Minister Responsible for Integrated Land Management Bureau
Kevin Falcon
Minister of Health Services
Ida Chong
Minister of Healthy Living and Sport
Mary McNeil
Minister of State for the Olympics and ActNow BC
Rich Coleman
Minister of Housing and Social Development
Kash Heed
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Murray Coell
Minister of Labour
Iain Black
Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development
Kevin Krueger
Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts
Shirley Bond
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure