Adrian Dix announces shadow cabinet

VICTORIA — Newly elected NDP leader Adrian Dix rolled out his shadow cabinet Tuesday, saying the new roster will help him take on the BC Liberal government during a legislative session that begins on Wednesday.

Dix named top leadership rival Mike Farnworth as health critic, though he took away the house leader role that Farnworth had held under former leader Carole James. Farnworth had been the party’s critic for public safety, a job now filled by Kathy Corrigan.

John Horgan, who finished third in the recent NDP leadership race, holds onto his previous portfolio as energy critic, but also becomes the new NDP house leader.

Dix kept Bruce Ralston as finance critic, and leaves Robin Austin as critic for education.

Dix did not give a critic portfolio to James, saying she requested time to focus on work within her Victoria-Beacon Hill constituency.

He named former interim leader Dawn Black as assistant deputy speaker.

The entire list of roles is as follows:

Finance and Public Accounts critic – Bruce Ralston (Surrey-Whalley)

Health critic – Mike Farnworth (Port Coquitlam)

House Leader, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources critic – John Horgan (Juan de Fuca)

Deputy House Leader, Deputy Health critic – Sue Hammell (Surrey-Green Timbers)

Whip – Maurine Karagianis (Esquimalt-Royal Roads)

Deputy Whip, Labour critic – Raj Chouhan (Burnaby Edmonds)

Caucus Chair, Social Development and Housing critic – Shane Simpson (Vancouver-Hastings)

Deputy Caucus Chair, Public Safety and Solicitor General critic and Women’s critic – Kathy Corrigan (Burnaby-Deer Lake)

Chair, Sustainable Economic Development Committee; Deputy Finance critic and Deputy Energy critic – Doug Donaldson (Stikine)

Chair, Social Policy Committee; Education critic – Robin Austin (Skeena)

Aboriginal Relations critic – Scott Fraser (Alberni-Pacific Rim)

Advanced Education, Youth and Labour Market Development critic – Michelle Mungall (Nelson-Creston)

Agriculture critic – Lana Popham (Saanich South)

Attorney General critic – Leonard Krog (Nanaimo)

B.C. Ferries and Coastal Communities critic – Gary Coons (North Coast)

Children and Family Development critic – Claire Trevena (North Island)

Citizens’ Services and Open Government critic – Doug Routley (Nanaimo-North Cowichan)

Community and Rural Development critic – Harry Lali (Fraser-Nicola)

Community Living critic, Deputy Social Development and Housing critic – Nicholas Simons (Powell River-Sunshine Coast)

Deputy Education critic – Diane Thorne (Coquitlam-Maillardville)

Environment critic – Rob Fleming (Victoria-Swan Lake)

Deputy Critic – Fisheries: Michael Sather (Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows)

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations critic – Norm Macdonald (Columbia River-Revelstoke)

Deputy Critic – Bill Routley (Cowichan Valley)

Jobs, Economic Development and Trade critic – Jenny Kwan (Vancouver-Mt. Pleasant)

Small Business critic – Jagrup Brar (Surrey-Fleetwood)

Public Health and Sport critic – Guy Gentner (Delta North)

Multiculturalism, Child Care and Early Learning critic – Mable Elmore (Vancouver-Kensington)

Seniors and Long Term Care critic – Katrine Conroy (Kootenay West)

Tourism, Culture and the Arts critic – Spencer Chandra Herbert (Vancouver-West End)

Transportation and Infrastructure critic – Harry Bains (Surrey-Newton)

Assistant Deputy Speaker (designate) – Dawn Black (New Westminster)