The governing BC NDP’s 47 MLAs were officially sworn in at a ceremony at the B.C. legislature on Wednesday, following the outcome of the province’s ultra-tight provincial election.
The caucus is notable both for its gender diversity and its fresh faces. Nearly a third of the MLAs (18), are newly elected, while two-thirds (31) are women.
Family members were permitted to join the ceremony, with some sitting on the legislature floor.
Before the ceremony, Songhees Nation elder Butch Dick sang a prayer and offered words of sympathy for the family of Horgan, who died Tuesday at the age of 65 after a third battle with cancer.
“I feel like he was there with us today in the swearing-in and he would have been clapping and cheering today for all of these MLAs if he had been able to,” Premier David Eby said.
“He was very much in our thoughts today.”
Langford-Juan de Fuca MLA Ravi Parmar, who represents former Horgan’s old riding, wore a Victoria Shamrocks lacrosse jersey in honour of his mentor.
The swearing-in follows similar ceremonies for the tw0 BC Greens Tuesday afternoon and 44 BC Conservatives Tuesday evening.
In total, the election delivered a record 56 first-time MLAs.
Eby is expected to unveil his new cabinet on Monday at Government House.
The premier will have his work cut out for him.
The New Democrats lost a dozen incumbent cabinet ministers through retirements or defeat at the ballot box, and the election left the party with few seats outside of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island to draw from for geographic representation.
Eby said his new cabinet will be “focused on the basics” of affordability, housing, healthcare and the economy.
He added that there were ongoing discussions with the BC Greens about a potential speaker of the legislature, but that the NDP was prepared to put up one of its own members if necessary.
With a file from the Canadian Press