Eby introduces new cabinet

· Castanet
Premier David Eby looks into the legislative assembly before start of the oath ceremony at the legislature in Victoria, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

A bus carrying members of Premier David Eby's new cabinet has arrived at Government House in Victoria, with passengers including both new and familiar faces.

Among newly elected members of the NDP caucus on the bus were former broadcaster Randene Neill and Vancouver Police Department veteran Terry Yung, while cabinet veterans including Mike Farnworth, Adrian Dix and Ravi Kahlon, also walked off the bus.

Eby arrived with his wife Dr. Cailey Lynch and their three children.

The premier has faced the challenge of filling the cabinet from a greatly reduced caucus after last month's tight election win gave his New Democrats a slim, one-seat majority.

The NDP government holds 47 seats in the 93-seat legislature.

Eby said at last week's swearing-in ceremony for the caucus that his cabinet and government will be tasked with focusing on kitchen-table issues of concern for people in B.C., including affordability, health care, public safety, housing and the economy.

Former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Mike Bernier, who ran unsuccessfully as an Independent last month in his Dawson Creek-area riding, says Eby must find ways to bring rural representation into the cabinet even though the majority of his members are from Metro Vancouver or Vancouver Island.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad says Eby has been invisible when it comes to rural B.C., and he and his 44-member caucus are looking forward to holding the government to account on numerous issues.

Here is a list of British Columbia's 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