B.C. Premier David Eby's new cabinet mixes veterans with 1st-time ministers faces in key portfolios

British Columbia Premier David Eby appointed a blend of new and old faces to his shuffled cabinet Wednesday, including some first-time ministers in major portfolios.

The new cabinet is made up of 23 ministers and four ministers of state. Eight of the 27 appointed are new additions.

Eby said he chose people from a variety of backgrounds, levels of experience and areas of the province.

"It's important to make sure that British Columbians see themselves in the cabinet," Eby told On The Coast host Gloria Macarenko.

In a significant move, Eby promoted Niki Sharma from parliamentary secretary for community development into his previous high-profile job as attorney general.

"I got a call from [Eby] saying, 'We'd like you to be the new attorney general of B.C.,' and I don't remember anything after that," said Sharma, a lawyer whose practice focused on representing Indigenous people.

The premier also moved Ravi Kahlon, his leadership campaign co-chair, from the Jobs Ministry to take over the new standalone Housing Ministry, which will be one of the most closely watched portfolios of Eby's first term.

Unexpectedly, Eby removed Selina Robinson from the Finance Ministry. Robinson announced just last month that the NDP government had a surplus windfall of $5.7 billion dollars, allowing Eby to spend on his priorities of housing, health care and public safety.

Eby would not categorize Robinson as having been demoted and said he chose her replacement, Katrine Conroy, because he has worked with her for a decade.

"British Columbians want her on their side,'' Eby said of Conroy, who represents Kootenay West in B.C.'s southeast.

As expected, the new premier kept seasoned veterans like Adrian Dix and Mike Farnworth in charge of the ministries of health and public safety, respectively. George Heyman will also continue as environment minister, while Rob Fleming will stay with transportation.

In other cabinet moves, former education minister Jennifer Whiteside is shifting to the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions. Another parliamentary secretary, Rachna Singh, will make a big move up to take over education.

Sheila Malcolmson will transfer to the social development and poverty portfolio.

Previous agriculture minister Lana Popham has been moved to the tourism, arts and culture portfolio after her predecessor, Melanie Mark, resigned from cabinet in September.

Bowinn Ma will be the minister of emergency management and climate readiness, while Rachna Singh, a former Parliamentary secretary, is elevated to cabinet as the education minister.

The other newcomers include Pam Alexis in agriculture, Minister of State for Child Care Grace Lore, Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey, Minister of State for Trade Jagrup Brar, Minister of State for Workforce Development Andrew Mercier and Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit Dan Coulter.

Exiting cabinet are George Chow, who held the trade portfolio, Nicholas Simons from social development and Katrina Chen from child care.

Chen released a statement on Tuesday saying she had asked not to be considered for cabinet as she concentrated on recovering from long-term trauma suffered because of gender-based violence, including as a child.

WATCH | David Eby is sworn in as premier in November:

David Black, a political communications expert at Victoria's Royal Roads University, said the new cabinet could foreshadow an early election call. B.C.'s budget has a projected surplus nearing $6 billion this year, but with an expected economic slowdown, the timing may be right for a fall 2023 election rather than the scheduled 2024 vote.

On Wednesday, Eby said that wasn't the case.

"I don't know how many times I can say it. I am committed to a fixed election date for B.C."

More diversity in new cabinet

The 27 cabinet members include 15 women and seven people of colour.

Former NDP cabinet minister Moe Sihota says "cabinet and government should represent the face of British Columbia, and that means people from all ethnicities should be involved."

"In their own right, they bring all of these skills in addition to their heritage that I think allow them to serve the province well," he adds.

Kevin Falcon response

Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon criticized the size of the new cabinet.

"It seems that almost 80 per cent of the entire NDP caucus has received a raise in pay," he said. "My message to the public is that we have to ignore the announcements the government makes and focus on the results."

Falcon also criticized Eby for reappointing Adrian Dix as health minister, saying it "is essentially saying to the public, 'We're quite OK with the status quo in health care,' when we've got one in five British Columbians that cannot even access a family doctor."

The cabinet

Eby, 46, became B.C.'s 37th premier last month, replacing former premier John Horgan, who announced last summer he was stepping down due to health concerns.

In his first weeks in office, Eby announced more than $1 billion in initiatives, including funding more police officers and health professionals, providing income relief, electricity bill credits and forming the standalone Ministry of Housing.

The new cabinet is as follows:

• Premier: David Eby

• 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: Katrine Conroy

• Forests: 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

• Labour: Harry Bains

• Mental Health and Addictions: Jennifer Whiteside

• Municipal Affairs: Anne Kang

• Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills: Selina Robinson

• Public Safety and Solicitor General: Mike Farnworth

• Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Sheila Malcolmson

• Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Lana Popham

• Transportation and Infrastructure: Rob Fleming

• Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (Fisheries): Nathan Cullen