All four first-time Vancouver MLAs were appointed to the premier’s 24-member provincial cabinet yesterday in a shakeup that saw key portfolios health, education and transportation change hands.
“All newly elected MLAs and all those who return to the legislature reflect the temper of our times,” Premier Gordon Campbell said at Government House in Victoria yesterday.
“Hopefully each new MLA will offer solutions and new perspectives that will help us meet the challenges ahead.”
Campbell’s appointments mean that every Liberal MLA elected in Vancouver is a member of his cabinet:
• Kash Heed (Vancouver-Fraserview) is public safety minister and solicitor general.
• Margaret MacDiarmid (Vancouver-Fairview) is education minister.
• Moira Stillwell (Vancouver-Langara) is minister of advanced education.
• Mary McNeil (Vancouver-False Creek) is minister of state for the Olympics.
The premier also rotated some of his key ministers.
George Abbott moved from health to aboriginal relations, while Kevin Falcon vacated transportation for health.
Shirley Bond moved from education to transportation and Mike de Jong shifted from aboriginal relations to attorney general, a void created by the defeat of Wally Oppal to Independent Vicki Huntington in Delta South.
Colin Hansen returns as minister of finance, as does Rich Coleman in housing, Barry Penner in environment and Pat Bell in forests.
