B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet

B.C. Premier David Eby has unveiled his new cabinet, including several ministers who will remain in their current positions alongside some new additions.

Among the notable changes are Niki Sharma, who has been appointed attorney general, and Katrine Conroy, who will take over as finance minister from Selina Robinson, who is now in charge of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Premier @Dave_Eby with his new cabinet. Some of the surprises @KatrineConroy taking over finance from @selinarobinson and new AG @NikiSharma2. #bcpoli @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/bWlDrP1gDF

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) December 7, 2022

Sharma is now the first South-Asian attorney general in B.C.’s history. The Vancouver-Hastings MLA got emotional while talking about what the appointment meant to her.

“I think about all the women before me in my family who didn’t have the opportunities. Who had sexism and racism stand in their way,” she said with a sniffle during a media conference. “I carry those stories with me and it hit me today when I had my name called.”

“For all those women out there and their struggles, and what they’re experiencing, I understand, and I’ll bring that to the role I have today,” Sharma said.

Other changes include Former Education Minister, Jennifer Whiteside, who will now be minister of Mental Health and Addictions. The education portfolio will be handled by Rachna Singh.

Ravi Kahlon takes over the housing file, and Rob Fleming is remaining as minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Adrian Dix will remain in health, while Mike Farnworth will continue taking care of the public safety and solicitor general file.

The full cabinet is as follows:

• 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 Strategy: George Heyman
• Finance (includes Columbia River Treaty): Katrine Conroy
• Forests, and Minister Responsible for Consular Corps: Bruce Ralston
• Health, and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs: Adrian Dix
• 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
• Municipal Affairs: Anne Kang
• Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills: 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: Rob Fleming
  • Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit: Dan Coulter
• Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship: Nathan Cullen

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The province notes gender representation in the new cabinet “remains balanced.”

“If the pandemic taught us anything, it’s that we can’t solve these problems alone. We need to solve them together. My team of determined colleagues will use a wealth and variety of experiences to continue the good work we’ve started and go further to deliver results people can see and feel in their communities,” Eby said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, now-former Minister of State for Child Care Katrina Chen announced that she had asked to not be named to Eby’s cabinet.

In a statement, Chen said she is taking some time to heal, saying, “as a survivor of gender-based violence more than once in my life, including as a child, I have long-term trauma that has yet to be fully unpacked.”

“This long-standing trauma has continued to impact my life, even as I dedicated my time to my work in cabinet to deliver progress on child care for B.C. families,” she wrote. ” I am incredibly proud of my journey. As an immigrant, I have represented our community in the legislature, and have worked with my colleagues to stand up the first social program in a generation.”

BC’s minister of state for child care, @KatrinaCBurnaby, saying she’s asked to not be named to @Dave_Eby’s cabinet (swearing in is Wednesday). Revealing she is taking time to heal from being a victim of gender based violence. #bcpoli @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/w4iUoujwIW

— LizaYuzda (@LizaYuzda) December 7, 2022

Chen continued by saying she needs “time to focus on myself and my son.”

Could there be an election?

With his new cabinet in place, there are questions as to whether there will be an early election.

Some experts have said Eby would be wise to drop the writ sometime next year instead of waiting for 2024.

Political scientist David Black at Royal Roads University in Victoria says it doesn’t make sense to hold on when the provincial coffers are overflowing.

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Black points to the $5.7 billion surplus this year, noting B.C.’s financial situation is expected to take a hit in 2023.

Since replacing former premier John Horgan last month, Eby has quickly staked out health care, public safety, affordability and housing as his NDP government’s priority issues.