EDITORIAL – Eby’s new cabinet features some major changes, including Dix

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

TWENTY-SEVEN NEW cabinet ministers were sworn in today (Nov. 18, 2024) as Premier David Eby unveiled the faces of those who will run the province in the coming months. That’s not counting 14 parliamentary secretaries.

It’s the same size as the previous cabinet. Seventeen are women. Some of the new ministers are familiar, many are new. A couple of changes are notable.

Adrian Dix is out as health minister, being shuffled off to energy and climate solutions. Taking over from him in health is Josie Osborne.

It’s a significant change, since Dix has been in the health portfolio since 2017, an unusually long tenure for a cabinet minister. By and large, he’s been respected in the role. Among other things, he helped guide the province through the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating both strength and compassion during the ordeal.

But as health minister, he was constantly beset by criticism for failure to make significant inroads into drug addiction and its effect on homelessness and social turmoil. Not that he didn’t try but Eby no doubt figured it’s time for a fresh pair of eyes to tackle B.C.’s most challenging issue.

As well, of course, the doctor shortage continues. Osborne will now also have the weight on her shoulders of ensuring the Kamloops cancer centre happens as promised.

Another appointment of interest is the creation of the Ministry of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities, which will be headed by Kootenay-Central MLA Brittny Anderson.

Exactly what her job will be is unclear, but Anderson will report directly to Eby as a junior minister. As one of only a handful of NDP MLAs from the Interior who were successful in the October election, she no doubt is seen by Eby as someone who can pay special attention to areas of the province outside the Lower Mainland. Bridging the gap between the Coast and the rest of B.C. will be a tough job. And there’s no doubt that local governments could do with extra oversight as well.

Anderson is a former Nelson city councillor so she has some feel for her new role despite being in the Ledge only since 2020. Kamloops-Centre MLA Peter Milobar and North Thompson MLA Ward Stamer, in Opposition, will certainly be peppering her with questions about matters of concern locally.

Here’s the full list of the new cabinet:

• Premier: David Eby
• Attorney general and deputy premier: Niki Sharma
• Health: Josie Osborne
• Finance: Brenda Bailey
• Housing and municipal affairs: Ravi Kahlon
• Forests: Ravi Parmar
• Energy and climate solutions: Adrian Dix
• Agriculture and food: Lana Popham
• Children and family development: Grace Lore
• Citizens’ Services: George Chow
• Education and child care: Lisa Beare
• Public Safety and solicitor general: Gary Begg
• Emergency management and climate readiness: Kelly Greene
• Environment and parks: Tamara Davidson
• Indigenous relations and reconciliation: Christine Boyle
• Infrastructure: Bowinn Ma
• Jobs, economic development and innovation: Diana Gibson
• Labour: Jennifer Whiteside
• Mining and critical minerals: Jagrup Brar
• Post-secondary education and future skills: Anne Kang
• Social development and poverty reduction: Sheila Malcolmson
• Tourism, arts, culture and sport: Spencer Chandra Herbert
• Transportation and transit and house leader: Mike Farnworth
• Water, land and resource stewardship: Randene Neill
• Minister of state for local governments and rural communities: Brittny Anderson
• Minister of state for child care and children and youth with support needs: Jodie Wickens
• Minister of state for trade: Rick Glumac
• Minister of state for community safety and integrated services: Terry Yung

Mel Rothenburger is a former regular contributor to CFJC-TV and CBC radio, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award, and a Webster Foundation Commentator of the Year finalist. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.