Nikki Sharma, becomes first woman of colour to be appointed as Attorney General
Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon was appointed to the senior role of Minister of Housing and Government House Leader.
Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh was promoted to Minister of Education.
Surrey-Fleetwood MLA Jagrup Brar was promoted to Minister of State for Trade.
Surrey-Guildford MLA Garry Begg will continue to serve as Caucus Whip.
Surrey-Whalley MLA Bruce Ralston was appointed to the role of Minister of Forests and Minister responsible for Consular Corps.
Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains was re-appointed as Minister of Labour
VICTORIA: Premier David Eby recently announced a cabinet and leadership team to tackle the problems people of British Columbia are facing. While premier Eby was applauded for the composition of the new cabinet with balance of gender and colour, the premier got special attention from Surrey as many MLAs from the South of the Fraser were appointed to key positions, proving that Surrey and Delta are important cities in BC.
Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon was appointed to the senior role of Minister of Housing and Government House Leader. The new, standalone Housing Ministry will be focused on implementing an ambitious agenda to tackle the housing crisis and provide affordable, attainable homes for British Columbians.
Another young South Asian who made headlines was Nikki Sharma who was appointed as BC’s new attorney general. Sharma will be the first woman of colour to hold this role. She’ll be taking action on priorities, like a strong healthcare system and safer communities.
Jagrup Brar was inducted as the Minister of State. A long serving MLA from Surrey-Fleetwood, Brar has been active in the Surrey community for years.
Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh, former parliamentary secretary for anti racism initiatives, was appointed to another important portfolio of BC’s minister of education and child care.
Premier Eby announced a new cabinet made of experience and new energy that will focus on tackling the problems people are facing, and working to make life better for British Columbians.
“British Columbia is a wonderful place to live, but people are looking for action on the issues facing them and their families,” Premier Eby said. “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.”
The new cabinet members are tasked with helping regular British Columbians with the cost of living, strengthening the health-care system, tackling the housing crisis so people can find affordable, attainable homes, making communities safer, advancing reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, fighting the impacts of climate change and building a sustainable, clean-energy economy that works for everyone.
Two new ministries are being created to devote more attention and resources to major issues that impact British Columbians: the Ministry of Housing, and the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness.
The new cabinet includes 23 ministers and four ministers of state. Gender representation remains balanced. The cabinet will be supported in its work by 14 parliamentary secretaries.
The 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 (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 (includes immigration/foreign credentials): Selina Robinson
* Minister of State for Workforce Development: Andrew Mercier
* Public Safety and Solicitor General (ICBC), and Deputy Premier: Mike Farnworth
* Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Sheila Malcolmson
* Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Lana Popham
* Transportation and Infrastructure (BC Transit and Translink): Rob Fleming
* Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit: Dan Coulter
* Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (Fisheries): Nathan Cullen
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