Premier Christy Clark rearranges cabinet, taking Fassbender from education
Posted July 30, 2015 10:20 am.
Last Updated July 30, 2015 3:26 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – BC Premier Christy Clark has rearranged some members of her cabinet, shuffling Peter Fassbender out of education and into the Ministry of Community Sport and Cultural Development.
The big change is the appointment of Peter Fassbender as the minister responsible for TransLink.
OMNI TV Political Analyst Kim Emerson says this move points to some coming changes at the transit body after the No side’s victory in the plebiscite.
“Something had to happen there,” says Emerson. “Peter Fassbender is now becoming Mr. Fix It. He’s the guy being sent in to deal with that. It was removed from Todd Stone. He has more than enough to deal with, with BC Ferries and our road system in the province.”
Emerson says Fassbender’s performance as education minister during the labour dispute with teachers will put him in good stead.
“He stayed on message and he kept trying to move forward,” Emerson says of Fassbender during the dispute. “He kept trying to keep talks going in one form or another. So, that all goes in his favour and that’s exactly why he’s being moved along to try and help this out.”
Coralee Oakes is Minister of Small Business, Red-Tape Reduction and Minister Responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch. Naomi Yamamoto is Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness, which will now be in the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and Mike Bernier is Minister of Education.
In a statement Premier Christy Clark says today’s changes are about making sure British Columbians in every region benefit from our plan to create jobs by growing our strong and diverse economy.
“We have the opportunity now to build on a record of student achievement with long-term labour peace in place, to strengthen our support for small business, which is the backbone of our economy, to work together with communities to prepare for the future, and to put in place a plan to prevent and manage emergencies or natural disasters so that our province can recover with our future secured.”
Premier Clark has also made the following changes to parliamentary secretaries: Jordan Sturdy is now Parliamentary Secretary for Energy Literacy and the Environment for Minister of Environment Mary Polak. Sturdy also will chair the Climate Leadership Panel.
