Premier John Horgan heads into his first cabinet meeting Wednesday with top priorities of moving ahead with elimination of bridge tolls in Metro Vancouver and increasing income assistance rates by $100 a month.
At a news conference at Government House Tuesday after being sworn in along with a 22-member NDP cabinet, Horgan said he must then prepare for a visit to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa and then a trip to Washington D.C. The U.S. visit is to make good on a campaign pledge to personally assist in negotiations for a new softwood lumber trade agreement.
In a speech to supporters in a packed ballroom at Government House, Horgan repeatedly referred to the situation facing B.C. residents either evacuated or on alert to get out of the way of forest fires. He said he wants to get to work immediately 香蕉视频直播渟o the people in the Interior don香蕉视频直播檛 have to go home to a burned-out community with no jobs.香蕉视频直播
The government change is an immediate test for Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson, who takes over as forests minister in the midst of the fire situation. Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA Carole James received the largest ovation at the ceremony when she was announced as deputy premier and finance minister.
Horgan takes over as premier with the support of the three-member B.C. Green Party caucus marks the first change in governenment in 16 years. The cabinet has 20 ministers, including New Westminster MLA Judy Darcy heading a new ministry of mental health and addictions.
Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall is appointed energy, mines and petroleum resources minister, with the task of resisting progress on the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion project from Alberta to its port in Burnaby.
Horgan said cabinet will look at regulatory options from the ministries that issue permits. Vancouver-Fairview MLA George Heyman, a former executive director of Sierra Club B.C., takes over as environment minister.
Green Party leader Andrew Weaver attended the ceremony and congratulated Horgan.
香蕉视频直播淭his minority government is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do politics differently in British Columbia,香蕉视频直播 Weaver said. 香蕉视频直播淲e have an historic opportunity to put partisan politics aside and work together across party lines to advance good public policy that is in the best interests of British Columbians.香蕉视频直播
Fort Langley-Aldergrove MLA Rich Coleman, moving from deputy premier to opposition MLA, wasn香蕉视频直播檛 in a cooperative mood
香蕉视频直播淭his #GreeNDP government was not recognized by the majority of B.C. and will pander to minority interests at the expense of the majority,香蕉视频直播 Coleman said on Twitter as the swearing-in ceremony was about to get underway.
Here is the complete list of new NDP cabinet appointments:
- Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Melanie Mark
- Minister of Agriculture 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Lana Popham
- Attorney General 香蕉视频直播 Hon. David Eby
- Minister of Children and Family Development 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Katrine Conroy
- Minister of State for Child Care 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Katrina Chen
- Minister of Citizens香蕉视频直播 Services 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Jinny Sims
- Minister of Education 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Rob Fleming
- Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Michelle Mungall
- Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy 香蕉视频直播 Hon. George Heyman
- Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Carole James
- Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Doug Donaldson
- Minister of Health 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Adrian Dix
- Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Scott Fraser
- Minister of Jobs, Trade, and Technology 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Bruce Ralston
- Minister of State for Trade 香蕉视频直播 Hon. George Chow
- Minister of Labour 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Harry Bains
- Minister of Mental Health and Addictions 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Judy Darcy
- Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Selina Robinson
- Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Mike Farnworth
- Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Shane Simpson
- Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Lisa Beare
- Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure 香蕉视频直播 Hon. Claire Trevena
Parliamentary secretaries:
- Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness 香蕉视频直播 Jennifer Rice
- Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction 香蕉视频直播 Mable Elmore
- Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors 香蕉视频直播 Anne Kang
- Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Multiculturalism 香蕉视频直播 Ravi Kahlon
- Parliamentary Secretary for Technology 香蕉视频直播 Rick Glumac
- Parliamentary Secretary for Translink 香蕉视频直播 Bowinn Ma