After two terms in the back benches, Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad has earned his seat at the cabinet table.
Rustad was tapped as the new Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation on Friday and will officially be sworn into his new role on Monday.
"I'm quite pleased and it's a tremendous honour for the Premier to ask me to take on this file," he said in a phone interview from Vancouver shortly after Premier Christy Clark announced her new team. "I think it's a very important file. It's critical, especially for northern B.C., but also the whole province."
Rustad got the news about his new job on Thursday and expects to get a full briefing on his new job shortly after Monday's swearing-in ceremony in Victoria. He takes over from Ida Chong, who was defeated in her Victoria-area riding last month.
His responsibilities will include working towards the government's goal of 10 more non-treaty benefit agreements and working with First Nations on natural resource development files, including liquified natural gas (LNG).
"Clearly the Premier has said that moving forward with the LNG opportunity for B.C., the opportunity to become debt-free is a very high priority and the ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation plays a role in that and that's going to be one of the high priorities for me to be working on."
Rustad has had a host of committee duties in his eight years in office, but said he's looking forward to taking the next step and joining cabinet.
"I was excited but I also recognized it will be a tremendous amount of work and some challenges," he said when asked his first thoughts after getting the news. "I have good relationships with many of the First Nations around the province and in my riding and I look forward to expanding on that."
Meanwhile, after knocking off two-term incumbent Bob Simpson in Cariboo North, Coralee Oakes was named to cabinet as the new Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
With the Canada Winter Games coming to Prince George in less than two years, Oakes' new ministry ties in closely with the largest multi-sport event ever held in the region.
She'll also be expected to work with municipalities on cultural projects and discuss benefit agreements with communities that could be impacted by the creation and expansion of the liquified natural gas industry.
Clark said Oakes' voice will be especially valued at cabinet meetings because of the region she represents.
"The Cariboo hasn't been represented in cabinet for quite awhile," she said.
