Premier David Eby has put his stamp on the new government by swapping out both his finance and education minister in a major cabinet swap leading to eight new politicians in cabinet.
Katrine Conroy is B.C.’s new Finance Minister, moved after serving as the province’s forests minister for the last two years. She replaces Selina Robinson who is the new post-secondary education and future skills minister.
Conroy takes over with the province’s finances in a rosy position, with a forecast surplus of $5.7 billion. But economists have warned global economic pressures could have an impact on B.C.’s economy as well.
Rachna Singh is a new entry to the cabinet and will go immediately into education, one of the highest-profile jobs in the province. Jennifer Whiteside has been moved to mental health and addictions.
Whiteside takes over as concerns grow over public safety and the connection to mental health support. Sheila Malcolmson has been moved to social development and poverty reduction.
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Nicholas Simons has been removed from cabinet entirely, along with George Chow.
Katrina Chen is out of cabinet, only after asking Eby to remove her to focus on raising her son.
In total there are eight new ministers, including new Attorney General Niki Sharma. The Vancouver-Hastings MLA and lawyer takes over as the province grapples with changes around bail conditions and release of repeat offenders.
“British Columbia is a wonderful place to live, but people are looking for action on the issues facing them and their families,” Eby said.
Dix is the second longest-serving health minister in B.C.’s history and has led the government’s COVID-19 response.
“Those decisions are for the premier. I have been really honoured, and every day including today, people know I will give it everything I get no matter what I am doing,” Dix said on Tuesday.
Full cabinet
- Premier: David Eby
- Agriculture and Food: Pam Alexis
- Attorney General: Niki Sharma
- Children and Family Development: Mitzi Dean
- Citizens’ Services: Lisa Beare
- Education and Child Care: Rachna Singh
- Minister of State for Child Care: Grace Lore
- Emergency Management and Climate Readiness: Bowinn Ma
- Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation: Josie Osborne
- Environment and Climate Change: George Heyman
- Finance: Katrine Conroy
- Forests, and Minister Responsible for Consular Corps: Bruce Ralston
- Health: Adrian Dix
- Housing: Ravi Kahlon
- Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Murray Rankin
- Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation: Brenda Bailey
- Minister of State for Trade: Jagrup Brar
- Labour: Harry Bains
- Mental Health and Addictions: Jennifer Whiteside
- Municipal Affairs: Anne Kang
- Housing and Government House Leader: Ravi Kahlon
- Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Murray Rankin
- Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation: Brenda Bailey
- Minister of State for Trade: Jagrup Brar
- Labour: Harry Bains
- Mental Health and Addictions: Jennifer Whiteside
- Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills (includes immigration / foreign credentials): Selina Robinson
- Minister of State for Workforce Development: Andrew Mercier
- Public Safety and Solicitor General (ICBC): Mike Farnworth
- Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Sheila Malcolmson
- Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Lana Popham
- Transportation and Infrastructure (BC Transit and TransLink): Rob Fleming
- Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit: Dan Coulter
- Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (Fisheries): Nathan Cullen
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