Premier Christy Clark today announced a new, smaller cabinet focused on "putting families first, creating jobs and changing the way British Columbians engage with their government," stated a BC Liberal press release.
"Together, we will focus on creating jobs and building a strong economy because that is the single most important thing we can do to support families and ensure we can invest in critical services like health and education," said Clark. "This is a team that will work hard to ensure that prosperity and opportunity extend to every region of our province."
The new cabinet is made up of 17 ministers plus the premier, reduced from the previous total of 24.
This includes the new Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, which will bring together many of the functions in government focused on job creation under a single ministry.
As well, three new cabinet committees reflect the priorities of government - the Committee on Families First; the Committee on Jobs and Economic Growth; and the Committee on Open Government and Engagement.
Responsibility for colleges and universities has been recombined under the Ministry of Advanced Education; responsibility for mining has been returned to the Ministry of Energy and Mines; Labour and Citizen Services have been combined; and Forests and Lands has been combined with Natural Resource Operations.
The new cabinet appointed and sworn into office by the lieutenant-governor in a ceremony today is:
Premier - Hon. Christy Clark
Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance - Hon. Kevin Falcon
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation - Hon. Mary Polak
Minister of Advanced Education - Hon. Naomi Yamamoto
Minister of Agriculture - Hon. Don McRae
Attorney General - Hon. Barry Penner
Minister of Children and Family Development - Hon. Mary McNeil
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development - Hon. Ida Chong
Minister of Education - Hon. George Abbott
Minister of Energy and Mines (minister responsible for Housing) - Hon. Rich Coleman
Minister of Environment - Hon. Terry Lake
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations - Hon. Steve Thomson
Minister of Health - Hon. Michael de Jong
Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation - Hon. Pat Bell
Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government - Hon. Stephanie Cadieux
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General - Hon. Shirley Bond
Minister of Social Development (minister responsible for multiculturalism) - Hon. Harry Bloy
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure - Hon. Blair Lekstrom
Additionally, 10 MLAs have been named as parliamentary secretaries, and will work with ministers to focus on key initiatives of government.
Rich Coleman will serve as the government house leader and Terry Lake will be the deputy government house leader.
Ben Stewart will be the government whip.
"We will work with citizens to find solutions to problems, set priorities openly and explain why we make the decisions we do," said Clark.
"British Columbia is starting from a position of strength. It is up to us to build on this strength for the betterment of families across our province."
