B.C. Premier David Eby has made some significant shakeups to his cabinet following his narrow victory in October, including moving prominent health minister Adrian Dix out of the health portfolio.
Dix, who led B.C.’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and was the architect of reforms to the primary health-care system, will be the new minister responsible for energy. Closures to hospitals in rural areas across the province as well as long waits to receive diagnostic care put pressure on Eby to remove Dix from the roll.
Josie Osborne, the former energy minister and MLA for Mid Island-Pacific Rim, has been appointed as Health Minister.
Eby says the new cabinets’ top priorities will be bringing down costs for families, strengthening health care, making communities safer and growing the economy so everyone feels the benefits.
Eby has also made a significant change around public safety. Mike Farnworth has been moved out of the portfolio he has held since 2017, and will now be B.C.’s transportation minister. Farnworth will also return to the role of house leader, one he held from 2017 to 2022.
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Garry Begg, who won his Surrey-Guildford seat by 22 votes, is B.C.’s new public safety minister.
Before politics, Begg served as an RCMP officer in Surrey.
Former Vancouver police officer and the newly elected MLA for Vancouver Yale town Terry Yung will be serving in cabinet as well. His responsibility will be as a minister of state responsible for community safety and integrated communities.
Ravi Kahlon remains B.C.’s housing minister and municipal affairs has been added to his responsibilities as well.
Eby had the challenge of having to replace a significant amount of his cabinet, including five members who lost in October’s election and seven ministers who did not run again.
Full list
Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities: Brittny Anderson
Agriculture and Food: Lana Popham
Attorney General and Deputy Premier: Niki Sharma
Children and Family Development: Grace Lore
Citizens Services: George Chow
Education and Child Care: Lisa Beare
Minister of State for Child Care and Children and Youth with Support Needs: Jodie Wickens
Emergency Management and Climate Readiness: Kelly Greene
Energy and Climate Solutions: Adrian Dix
Environment and Parks: Tamara Davidson
Finance: Brenda Bailey
Forests: Ravi Parmar
Health: Josie Osborne
Housing and Municipal Affairs: Ravi Kahlon
Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Christine Boyle
Infrastructure: Bowinn Ma
Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation: Diana Gibson
Minister of State for Trade: Rick Glumac
Labour: Jennifer Whiteside
Mining and Critical Minerals: Jagrup Brar
Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills: Anne Kang
Public Safety and Solicitor General: Garry Begg
Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services: Terry Yung
Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Sheila Malcolmson
Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Spencer Chandra Herbert
Transportation and Transit and House Leader: Mike Farnworth
Water, Land and Resource Stewardship: Randene Neill
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