Campbell tweaks cabinet ahead of 2009 election

VICTORIA -- Premier Gordon Campbell set the groundwork Monday for next year's provincial election, unveiling changes to his cabinet to address the major issues his government is likely to face in the coming campaign.

In a shuffle he termed "a mild review and renewal," Campbell replaced his embattled forest minster, altered his government's approach to housing and mental health issues and attempted to retain a reputation of financial prudence and stability -- all while keeping the same general geographic cabinet makeup.

"We're really focusing on healthy living, social development and skills development for a growing and a stronger economy," Campbell said as he introduced his new ministers.

While he kept the majority of ministers who are running for re-election in their current roles, he moved seven into new portfolios while maintaining the same ratio of men to women.

In the most dramatic move, Campbell removed Rich Coleman from the forest ministry, replacing him with former agriculture minister Pat Bell.

"I think [Bell] will be not just a good listener, but he's shown his ability to bring people together and reach for, I think, an even more exciting future for forestry in the future," Campbell said.

Bell, whose riding includes the hard-hit forestry town of Mackenzie, said that once the province can move to the development stage of its current forestry plan "we'll be in very good shape."

"It's a difficult time for the industry, but the industry is ready for change and communities are ready for change," Bell said, predicting that mills in Mackenzie that have recently shut down will reopen in the future.

Coleman becomes Minister of Housing and Social Development, a ministry that combines the housing file from the former forest ministry with the former ministry of employment and income assistance.

Thousands of forest workers have lost their jobs during an industry crisis that came to a head on Coleman's watch, and the opposition New Democratic party has been saying for months that Coleman did not care about the crisis and calling for his resignation from the file.

Coleman said Monday he leaves forestry "with my head held high," because many of the problems facing the industry are driven by factors outside the government's control.

Coleman's new job puts him in charge of wide range of issues, including housing, income assistance, mental health and addictions, gaming policy and disability assistance.

Campbell said the revamped ministry will allow the government to take a more integrated approach to mental health issues, addiction and homelessness.

"We think it's critically important that we provide those integrated services," he said.

"We're trying to keep people in their homes. We're trying to connect directly with individuals," Campbell said, adding that the new structure allows the province to deal with homelessness "in a straightforward and honest way."

In another significant move, Campbell shuffled Colin Hansen from the ministry of economic development back to finance, making next year's election the second in a row fought with Hansen at the financial helm.

The move replaces the universally liked Carole Taylor -- who is not standing for re-election -- with a familiar and prudent hand, and gives Campbell a likable minister to help sell the carbon tax.

"This is going to be a challenging time for British Columbia in terms of finance because of the volatility of the economy right now," Hansen said.

He said he "will not even try to fill Carole [Taylor]'s shoes," but added he is proud of his record as finance minister from December 2004 to June 2005.

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Hansen said he will be hitting the road soon to help sell the carbon tax.

"We do have to make sure British Columbians in every corner of the province understand the net benefits they will get in their pockets as a result of the tax reductions, the dividend cheques and the tax credits that every British Columbian will benefit from in the years to come," he said, adding he will be happy to defend the carbon tax.

"It is certainly very defensible. It's the right policy for this time in British Columbia."

Campbell added five new ministers.

Blair Lekstrom, an occasional rebel in the Liberal caucus who voted against a handful of key Liberal bills, becomes the Minister of Community Development.

Last fall, Lekstrom voted against the Liberals on both the Maa-nulth and Tsawwassen first nations treaties, saying he was worried they would confer special status on first nations.

Lekstrom was one of three Liberal MLAs who voted against removing controversial murals from the legislature's rotunda. The images have been deemed offensive to aboriginals and are currently being covered up.

Another newcomer to cabinet is Minister of Healthy Living and Sport Mary Polak, a former chairwoman of the conservative Surrey School Board.

Polak rejected the labels that she is against same-sex education or anti-abortion rights, saying she wants her record to speak for her.

"I have a long political career and one I am very proud of," she said.

Other additions are: Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations Joan McIntyre, Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services Iain Black and Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts Bill Bennett.

The shuffle follows a recent Ipsos Reid poll that shows the Liberals lead the NDP in public support by 14 percentage points.

In December, however, a group of hand-picked advisers told Campbell B.C. is lagging behind in economic growth, crime-fighting and caring for the province's most vulnerable citizens. The B.C. Progress Board -- 18 business executives and academic leaders -- for the second year in a row labelled B.C. the second-worst province in the country on a number of social indicators.

The NDP seized on that report at the time, and now are trying to make the carbon tax a key election issue with its new "axe the tax" campaign.

NDP Leader Carole James has been touring key logging communities, criticizing the government for its inaction on the forest file.