By The Canadian Press

NDP sworn in as British Columbia’s new government

Jul 18, 2017 | 2:45 PM

VICTORIA — The British Columbia New Democrats have been sworn in as government after 16 years on the Opposition benches.

In a ceremony led by First Nations drumming and songs, Premier John Horgan unveiled his cabinet for a government that has a one-seat edge over the Liberals after an agreement was reached with the three Green members following the election in May.

Horgan said Tuesday his cabinet is the first in British Columbia to achieve gender parity, with 10 women in cabinet and one named as minister of state.

Six members of the legislative assembly have been named as parliamentary secretaries, ranging in areas such as poverty reduction and emergency preparedness.

The NDP has also created a new Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, with former health critic Judy Darcy at the helm, as the death toll from opioid overdoses continues to climb in B.C.

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NDP stalwart Carole James is now deputy premier and minister of finance while longtime New Democrat Mike Farnworth becomes solicitor general and public safety minister.

“Our government will offer families relief from high costs and fees, strengthen services like health care and education, and create good jobs and economic opportunity across B.C.,” Horgan said.

Green party Leader Andrew Weaver congratulated Horgan and his cabinet, calling the minority government a “once-in-a-lifetime chance to do politics differently in British Columbia.”

“We have a historic opportunity to put partisan politics aside and work together across party lines to advance good public policy that is in the best interest of British Columbians,” Weaver said.

Full list: 

• Government of British Columbia Premier – Hon. John Horgan, Juan de Fuca 
• Minister of Advanced Education, Skills & Training – Hon. Melanie Mark, Vancouver-Mount
• Minister of Agriculture – Hon. Lana Popham, Saanich South
• Attorney General – Hon. David Eby, Vancouver-Point Grey
• Minister of Children & Family Development – Hon. Katrine Conroy, Kootenay West
• Minister of State for Childcare – Hon. Katrina Chen, Burnaby-Lougheed
• Minister of Citizens’ Services – Hon. Jinny Sims, Surrey-Panorama
• Minister of Education – Hon. Rob Fleming, Victoria-Swan Lake
• Minister of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources – Hon. Michelle Mungall, Nelson-Creston
• Minister of Environment & Climate Change Strategy – Hon. George Heyman, Vancouver-Fairview
• Minister of Finance and Deputy Premier – Hon. Carole James, Victoria-Beacon Hill
• Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development – Hon. Doug Donaldson, Stikine
• Minister of Health – Hon. Adrian Dix, Vancouver-Kingsway
• Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation – Hon. Scott Fraser, Mid Island-Pacific Rim
• Minister of Jobs, Trade & Technology – Hon. Bruce Ralston, Surrey-Whalley
• Minister of State for Trade – Hon. George Chow, Vancouver-Fraserview
• Minister of Labour – Hon. Harry Bains, Surrey-Newton
• Minister of Mental Health & Addictions – Hon. Judy Darcy, New Westminster
• Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing – Hon. Selina Robinson, Coquitlam-Maillardville
• Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General – Hon. Mike Farnworth, Port Coquitlam
• Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction – Hon. Shane Simpson, Vancouver-Hastings
• Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture – Hon. Lisa Beare, Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows
• Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure – Hon. Claire Trevena, North Island

Parliamentary secretaries

• Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness – Jennifer Rice, North Coast
• Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction – Mable Elmore, Vancouver-Kensington 
• Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors – Anne Kang, Burnaby-Deer Lake
• Parliamentary Secretary for Sport and Multiculturalism – Ravi Kahlon, Delta North
• Parliamentary Secretary for Technology – Rick Glumac, Port Moody-Coquitlam
• Parliamentary Secretary for Translink – Bowinn Ma, North Vancouver-Lonsdale

Deputy Ministers

• Government of British Columbia Deputy Minister to the Premier, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service, Office of the Premier – Don Wright
• Ministry of Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat, Office of the Premier – Okenge Yuma Morisho
• Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills & Training – Shannon Baskerville
• Ministry of Agriculture – Wes Shoemaker
• Deputy Attorney General, Ministry of Justice – Richard Fyfe
• Ministry of Children & Family Development – Allison Bond
• Ministry of Citizens’ Services – Jill Kot
• Ministry of Education – Scott McDonald
• Ministry of Energy, Mines & Petroleum Resources – Dave Nikolejsin
• Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy – Mark Zacharias (Deputy, Environment)
• Ministry of Environment & Climate Change Strategy – Bobbi Plecas (Deputy, Climate Change)
• Ministry of Finance – Lori Wanamaker
• Ministry of Finance – David Galbraith (Associate Deputy Minister; Secretary to Treasury Board)
• Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development – Tim Sheldon
• Ministry of Health – Stephen Brown