Sheila Malcolmson has moved portfolios in the latest NDP cabinet, now heading up the ministry of social development and poverty reduction. (BC Government)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

cabinet shuffle

Nanaimo MLA Sheila Malcomson moves ministries in cabinet shake-up

Dec 7, 2022 | 11:07 AM

NANAIMO — Sheila Malcolmson is moving on from the mental health and addictions ministry.

Premier David Eby unveiled a new NDP cabinet during an event in Victoria on Wednesday, Dec. 7, setting up his government after taking over from John Horgan in November.

Malcolmson’s new role sees her as minister of social development and poverty reduction, after serving as minister for mental health and addictions since November 2020.

According to the government, the ministry “focuses on providing British Columbians in need with a system of supports to help them achieve their social and economic potential.”

It was formerly headed up by Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons.

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Former education minister Jennifer Whiteside replaces Malcolmson as Minister of mental health and addictions.

Fellow mid-Island MLA’s Doug Routley and Adam Walker were not included in Eby’s cabinet.

Several key portfolios including health (Adrian Dix), public safety (Mike Farnworth) and Indigenous Relations (Murray Rankin) remain unchanged.

Former Tofino Mayor Josie Osborne moves into the energy, mines and low carbon innovation ministry, while Katrine Conroy assumes the role as minister of finance.

Niki Sharma will serve as the province’s attorney general, replacing Eby.

Ravi Kahlon will head the new housing ministry, which has been peeled away from the attorney general’s portfolio, while Bowinn Ma is in charge of the new emergency management and climate readiness portfolio.

Some political commentators have speculated the new cabinet will mark the unofficial start of an election campaign.

While B.C.’s next election is scheduled for the fall of 2024, the new cabinet could set in motion the countdown for an early vote next fall, said Prof. David Black, a political communications expert at Victoria’s Royal Roads University.

“My working theory of the shuffle is tied to what I believe is an election in 2023. I don’t see the political calculus in waiting for the fall of 2024. If you look at our fiscal situation, which right now is healthy, but next year is not looking very good with growth projections very low.”

Eby has consistently said he will not call an early election.

The government is projecting a $5.7-billion budget surplus this year with economic growth nearing three per cent but dropping to 0.5 per cent in 2023.

Private sector forecasters downgraded their projections this week, anticipating B.C.’s economy to grow 2.9 per cent this year and dipping to 0.4 per cent next year.

The size of the cabinet increased by three and nine are first-time ministers

The new cabinet for the provincial government is as follows:

• Niki Sharma, Attorney General
• Pam Alexis, Minister of Agriculture and Food
• Mitzi Dean, Minister of Children and Family Development
• Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens’ Services
• Rachna Singh, Minister of Education and Child Care
• Grace Lore, Minister of State for Child Care
• Bowinn Ma, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness
• Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
• George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy
• Katrine Conroy, Minister of Finance
• Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests
• Adrian Dix, Minister of Health
• Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing
• Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
• Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
• Jagrup Brar, Minister of State for Trade
• Harry Bains, Minister of Labour
• Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions
• Anne Kang, Minister of Municipal Affairs
• Selina Robinson, Minister of Post Secondary Education and Future Skills
• Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development
• Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General
• Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
• Lana Popham, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport
• Rob Fleming, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure
• Dan Coulter, Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit
• Nathan Cullen, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship

— with files from The Canadian Press

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