This page contains annotated news stories and press releases with commentary about land reform and the democratic process in British Columbia. Our comments are shown in red.
Dogwood Success Story!
Rich Coleman has been shuffled out of the forestry portfolio!
Time to put the pressure on our new Forest Minister Pat Bell, and hold him accountable!
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell names team to take him into next election
Jun 23, 2008VICTORIA — B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell announced some major changes to his cabinet Monday, naming the team that will likely take him into the next provincial election less than a year away.
Campbell brought five backbenchers into cabinet, saying the changes will bring new perspective to the Liberal inner circle.
Blair Lekstrom was named the new minister of community development and Mary Polak takes over the healthy living and sports portfolio.
Iain Black became minister of Labour and Citizen Services, Bill Bennett returned to cabinet in the Tourism, Culture and Arts post and Joan Macintyre is the new minister of state for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Campbell also switched up some of the current cabinet ministers.
Colin Hansen returns to his former position as finance minister, replacing the outgoing Carole Taylor, and Pat Bell is the new forests minister, leaving the agriculture post.
Rich Coleman, the former forest minister, takes over the helm at Housing and Social Development.
The B.C. premier made it clear last spring that he wanted decisions from his 45 caucus members about whether they would seek re-election on May 12, 2009, the province's next fixed election date.
Four members of the Liberal cabinet have since signalled their intent to bid adieu to provincial politics.
In addition to Taylor, former labour minister Olga Ilich announced she would not be running again in Richmond Centre and long-time Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond, the current minister of employment and income assistance, announced last month that he would not seek another term.
Last week, former revenue minister Rick Thorpe, the MLA for Okanagan-Westside, also made it known that he would not be seeking re-election.
Questions about the cabinet shuffle took a backseat Monday to questions about Campbell's impending carbon tax, the first in Canada that will apply to consumers.
The Liberal premier said his government will not drop the carbon tax set to take effect July 1, despite widespread public concerns.
"People are not pleased what's going on with gas prices; neither am I," he said in Victoria. "We can't turn our backs on the challenges we face as a province. I think it's wrong to do it."
Campbell was also queried about the slumping forest industry in his province.
The Liberal leader said he knows families in many B.C. Communities are struggling as job losses mount in the forest industry, but the government is working to ensure the industry has a profitable future.
A list of new British Columbia cabinet members
VICTORIA - A list of the British Columbia cabinet as announced by Premier Gordon Campbell on Monday:
Gordon Campbell, premier
Joan McIntyre, minister of state for intergovernmental relations
Michael de Jong, minister of aboriginal relations and reconciliation
Murray Coell, minister of advanced education and labour market development
Stan Hagen, minister of agriculture and lands
Wally Oppal, attorney general and minister responsible for multiculturalism
Tom Christensen, minister of children and family development
Linda Reid, minister of state for childcare
Blair Lekstrom, minister of community development
Shirley Bond, deputy premier and minister of education and minister responsible for early learning and literacy
Richard Neufeld, minister of energy, mines and petroleum resources
Gordon Hogg, minister of state for mining
Barry Penner, minister of environment
Colin Hansen, minister of finance and minister responsible for the Olympics
Pat Bell, minister of forests and range
George Abbott, minister of health services
Mary Polak, minister of healthy living and sport
Rich Coleman, minister of housing and social development
Iain Black, minister of labour and citizens' services
John van Dongen, solicitor general and minister of public safety
Kevin Krueger, minister of small business and revenue and minister responsible for deregulation
Ida Chong, minister of technology, trade and economic development and minister responsible for
the Asia-Pacific Initiative
Bill Bennett, minister of tourism, culture and the arts
Kevin Falcon, minister of transportation and infrastructure
Campbell brought five backbenchers into cabinet, saying the changes will bring new perspective to the Liberal inner circle.
Blair Lekstrom was named the new minister of community development and Mary Polak takes over the healthy living and sports portfolio.
Iain Black became minister of Labour and Citizen Services, Bill Bennett returned to cabinet in the Tourism, Culture and Arts post and Joan Macintyre is the new minister of state for Intergovernmental Affairs.
Campbell also switched up some of the current cabinet ministers.
Colin Hansen returns to his former position as finance minister, replacing the outgoing Carole Taylor, and Pat Bell is the new forests minister, leaving the agriculture post.
Rich Coleman, the former forest minister, takes over the helm at Housing and Social Development.
The B.C. premier made it clear last spring that he wanted decisions from his 45 caucus members about whether they would seek re-election on May 12, 2009, the province's next fixed election date.
Four members of the Liberal cabinet have since signalled their intent to bid adieu to provincial politics.
In addition to Taylor, former labour minister Olga Ilich announced she would not be running again in Richmond Centre and long-time Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond, the current minister of employment and income assistance, announced last month that he would not seek another term.
Last week, former revenue minister Rick Thorpe, the MLA for Okanagan-Westside, also made it known that he would not be seeking re-election.
Questions about the cabinet shuffle took a backseat Monday to questions about Campbell's impending carbon tax, the first in Canada that will apply to consumers.
The Liberal premier said his government will not drop the carbon tax set to take effect July 1, despite widespread public concerns.
"People are not pleased what's going on with gas prices; neither am I," he said in Victoria. "We can't turn our backs on the challenges we face as a province. I think it's wrong to do it."
Campbell was also queried about the slumping forest industry in his province.
The Liberal leader said he knows families in many B.C. Communities are struggling as job losses mount in the forest industry, but the government is working to ensure the industry has a profitable future.
A list of new British Columbia cabinet members
VICTORIA - A list of the British Columbia cabinet as announced by Premier Gordon Campbell on Monday:
Gordon Campbell, premier
Joan McIntyre, minister of state for intergovernmental relations
Michael de Jong, minister of aboriginal relations and reconciliation
Murray Coell, minister of advanced education and labour market development
Stan Hagen, minister of agriculture and lands
Wally Oppal, attorney general and minister responsible for multiculturalism
Tom Christensen, minister of children and family development
Linda Reid, minister of state for childcare
Blair Lekstrom, minister of community development
Shirley Bond, deputy premier and minister of education and minister responsible for early learning and literacy
Richard Neufeld, minister of energy, mines and petroleum resources
Gordon Hogg, minister of state for mining
Barry Penner, minister of environment
Colin Hansen, minister of finance and minister responsible for the Olympics
Pat Bell, minister of forests and range
George Abbott, minister of health services
Mary Polak, minister of healthy living and sport
Rich Coleman, minister of housing and social development
Iain Black, minister of labour and citizens' services
John van Dongen, solicitor general and minister of public safety
Kevin Krueger, minister of small business and revenue and minister responsible for deregulation
Ida Chong, minister of technology, trade and economic development and minister responsible for
the Asia-Pacific Initiative
Bill Bennett, minister of tourism, culture and the arts
Kevin Falcon, minister of transportation and infrastructure
