With the government changing hands in Victoria, it’s not just the premier and Liberal ministers who will be losing their jobs when the NDP take the reins.
Behind the scenes, dozens of government employees will also be finding themselves unemployed.
Most government staff are permanent public servants, whose jobs are protected by legislation regardless of who is in power, according to David Zussman, one of Canada’s foremost experts on government transitions.
However, Zussman said there is another group, known as exempt staff, who have unique jobs.
“These would include for instance policy advisers to the ministers, communication directors, legislative assistants and personal assistants,” Zussman said.
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Being direct political appointees, Zussman said none of these staffers would have gone through an open application process.
“They would be expected to leave their jobs, making way for a new group of people who would come in to advise and work for the new government.”
The B.C. government has 79 staff who fall under this category, some of whom will move to jobs in the opposition.
The NDP is set to reveal the team that will lead it through the transition to power later on Tuesday.
The party is expected to swear in a cabinet next week.
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