VICTORIA – Premier Christy Clark put a significant new stamp on government Monday, unveiling a smaller cabinet that saw nine ministers from the previous government demoted and most others reassigned.
“The reduced size of the cabinet reflects a renewed commitment to being respectful to British Columbians by being frugal with the hard-earned tax dollars that they provide,” Clark said just after being sworn in as B.C.’s 35th premier.
“Low- to middle-income earning families, particularly in rural communities, are struggling to keep up,” she said, adding her government’s focus will be on families and jobs.
“Good jobs are the foundation of strong families, and this government will be tireless in looking for ways to strengthen every aspect of our economy in every corner of our province.”
In a nod to party unity, Clark gave key posts to her main rivals in the recent leadership race, naming Kevin Falcon as deputy premier and minister of finance, George Abbott as minister of education and Mike de Jong as health minister.
Other key appointments include Shirley Bond as solicitor-general, Rich Coleman as minister of energy and mines, and Barry Penner as attorney-general.
In total there are 17 ministers in the new cabinet, compared with 23 in the cabinet introduced by Gordon Campbell last October.
But some of the most significant changes Monday were the people Clark left out of her government’s inner circle.
Colin Hansen, the previous finance minister responsible for introducing and promoting the harmonized sales tax, did not get a portfolio.
Other names left off the list include: Moira Stilwell, a former minister who ran in the Liberal leadership race; former education minister Margaret MacDiarmid; Kevin Krueger (most recently minister of social development); Iain Black (former minister of labour); and Murray Coell (former environment minister).
On Monday, Hansen said he has been through a “stressful couple of years” dealing with the economic downturn and the HST, and that the decision to leave cabinet was his.
“When I met with Christy, I gave her suggestions as to who [could] take over all of the responsibilities I had,” Hansen said. “The only hat I did not offer up was MLA.”
Asked if he was going to run in the next election, Hansen said he was still unsure. “I haven’t decided yet,” he said. “I’ve always figured I would stay in public life as long as I felt I was making a contribution.”
Hansen added that Clark has his full support, as well as that of all caucus members. “To a person, everyone is willing to help out and make sure we first of all have good government in B.C., and secondly that we win the next election,” he said.
Stilwell, who was named Parliamentary Secretary for Industry, Research and Innovation, said she was disappointed by not making cabinet, but added she is willing to work with Clark. “It’s the value of the work and not the title,” she said.
Among the new faces to cabinet is that of Harry Bloy, the sole MLA to support Clark’s leadership bid, who becomes minister of social development. The other two new faces are Environment Minister Terry Lake and Minister of Agriculture Don McRae.
Blair Lekstrom returns to cabinet as minister of transportation and infrastructure after spending months outside the Liberal caucus. Lekstrom quit both cabinet and caucus last June over the HST. He had sat as an Independent, but was welcomed back during the first caucus meeting under Clark.
New Democratic Party leader Dawn Black congratulated Clark Monday on becoming premier, but criticized her for a continued lack of substance.
“Premier Clark has said very little that is substantive about policies or what she will do for B.C. families,” said Black.
“She has promised … change, but quite frankly I feel the way the majority of British Columbians do – somewhat skeptical,” she added.
“The changes [to cabinet] were just in fact cosmetic, and nothing substantive.”
The new cabinet had a short meeting on Monday, and will have its first full session on Wednesday. The Liberal caucus will meet today in Victoria.
As he assumed his new role, Falcon allowed he did not at first want the position. “[But] Christy is very persuasive and I received a lot of phone calls from my friends in the business community making threats on my life, so ultimately the combination … did it,” Falcon laughed.
One of his most pressing tasks, he added, will be the HST referendum. “Frankly, we haven’t provided information [on the HST]. That has been a big part of the problem…. We have an obligation, I believe, as the government, to make sure we … allow [the public] to make an informed decision.”
Abbott said one of his first tasks in education will be to get ready for contract negotiations with teachers.
“We do know it is a negotiation year, and we do know the government has a net-zero mandate,” said Abbott, who was named education minister last October but stepped down to run for the party leadership.
“So that will undoubtedly be challenging.”
Here is the full list of her new cabinet:
Finance and deputy premier- Kevin Falcon
Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation – Mary Polak
Advanced Education – Naomi Yamamoto
Agriculture – Don McRae
Attorney-General – Barry Penner
Children and Family Development – Mary McNeil
Community, Sport and Cultural Development – Ida Chong
Education – George Abbott
Energy and Mines (and responsible for housing) Rich Coleman
Environment – Terry Lake
Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations – Steve Thomson
Health – Mike de Jong
Jobs, Tourism and Innovation – Pat Bell
Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government – Stephanie Cadieux
Public Safety and Solicitor-General – Shirley Bond
Social Development – Harry Bloy
Transportation and Infrastructure – Blair Lekstrom
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