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Vancouver Island MLAs claim key roles in new cabinet

Key ministries headed by veteran and rookie Island MLAs in Horgan’s new team
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Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Rob Fleming moves to the role of transportation minister in the NDP’s new cabinet. (B.C. government file photo)

A long-time Greater Victoria MLA has changed seats in the NDP’s new cabinet, while a pair of Vancouver Island newcomers have been given prominent positions.

Premier John Horgan and his cabinet members were sworn in Thursday (Nov. 26).

Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Rob Fleming moves to transportation and infrastructure, replacing Clare Trevena, who did not seek re-election last month. Fleming moves from his previous role as education minister. New Westminster’s new MLA Jennifer Whiteside will replace Fleming as minister of education.

Promoted to cabinet is second-term Esquimalt-Metchosin MLA Mitzi Dean, who takes over the children and family development ministry.

Nanaimo’s MLA is taking on more provincewide responsibility as a member of cabinet. Sheila Malcolmson was announced Thursday afternoon as B.C.’s minister of mental health and addictions. She succeeds Judy Darcy in heading the ministry, created by the previous NDP government in 2017.

Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Murray Rankin, a former MP serving his first term as an MLA, will move directly to cabinet and has been named to the Indigenous relations ministry as the province works to implement the United Nations declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

And new Mid Island-Pacific Rim MLA Josie Osborne is moving directly into cabinet as the province’s minister of municipal affairs. The position was previously held by Selina Robinson, who is the province’s new finance minister.

“I’m deeply honoured to take on the role of Minister of Municipal Affairs. BC’s municipalities & regional districts are playing a critical role in #COVID19 response and recovery and I’ll bring every ounce of passion and energy I have for local government to serve British Columbia,” Osborne tweeted.

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READ MORE: Horgan names 20-member cabinet with same pandemic team


 

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