The B.C. Liberal opposition has selected its critics to respond to Premier John HorganB次元官网网址檚 new majority government, with interim leader Shirley Bond taking on a new role of seniors and long-term care.
Bond said Monday the 28-member official opposition is taking a team approach to the COVID-19 crisis, and will share the load with rookie Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifeld, who takes on the role of health critic. Former health critic Norm Letnick (Kelowna-Lake Country) becomes assistant deputy speaker.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about leading by example,B次元官网网址� Bond said of her own role in releasing the lineup Nov. 30. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about the incredibly hard work that all of our critics will have to do, and I think it sends a signal about how important we think those issues are.B次元官网网址�
Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier is the new finance critic as incoming Finance Minister Selina Robinson prepares a budget to deal with the huge demands and deficits of the pandemic. Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart replaces Bernier as education critic, as schools have their own struggles with carrying on while controlling the spread of coronavirus infection.
Skeena MLA Ellis Ross takes over as environment and climate change critic, and Kootenay East MLA Tom Shypitka is the critic for energy and mines as B.C. carries on pipeline construction and continuing greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
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Vancouver-Langara MLA Michael Lee has a key critic role for transportation and infrastructure. B.C. is moving to the final stages of the Kicking Horse Pass portion of the Trans-Canada Highway, with that and other sections subject to the NDP governmentB次元官网网址檚 union-restricted contracts. Horgan has told the new transportation minister, Rob Fleming, that that public construction model is to be used in future projects, as B.C. and Canada expect big infrastructure works to help the economy recover in the coming years.
Lee was one of the candidates who ran against Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Andrew Wilkinson for the leadership after Christy Clark resigned in 2017. The other contenders include Abbotsford West MLA Mike de Jong, who becomes attorney general critic, and Kamloops South Thompson MLA Todd Stone, critic for jobs, economic recovery and innovation.
Wilkinson is not assigned a specific portfolio. Bond said he has agreed to use his extensive experience as a minister and deputy minister to B次元官网网址渟upport multiple critic rolesB次元官网网址� as the opposition takes on a 57-member NDP government caucus. A brief session is scheduled to start Dec. 7.
The full list of B.C. Liberal critics:
Advanced Education, Skills Training and Sport B次元官网网址� Coralee Oakes
Agriculture and Food B次元官网网址� Ian Paton
Attorney General B次元官网网址� Mike de Jong
CitizensB次元官网网址� Services B次元官网网址� Bruce Banman
Children, Family Development and Child Care B次元官网网址� Karin Kirkpatrick
Columbia Basin Initiatives B次元官网网址� Doug Clovechok
Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation B次元官网网址� Tom Shypitka
Education B次元官网网址� Jackie Tegart
Environment and Climate Change Strategy B次元官网网址� Ellis Ross
Finance B次元官网网址� Mike Bernier
Fisheries, Aquaculture and BC Ferries B次元官网网址� Jordan Sturdy
Forests, Lands, & Natural Resources B次元官网网址� John Rustad
Gender Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion B次元官网网址� Stephanie Cadieux
Health B次元官网网址� Renee Merrifield
Housing B次元官网网址� Ben Stewart
Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation B次元官网网址� Peter Milobar
Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation B次元官网网址� Todd Stone
Labour B次元官网网址� Greg Kyllo
Mental Health and Addictions B次元官网网址� Trevor Halford
Municipal Affairs B次元官网网址� Dan Ashton
Public Safety and Solicitor General B次元官网网址� Mike Morris
Rural Development B次元官网网址� Lorne Doerksen
Seniors Services & Long Term Care B次元官网网址� Shirley Bond
Social Development and Poverty Reduction B次元官网网址� Dan Davies
Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Anti-Racism Initiatives B次元官网网址� Teresa Wat
Transportation, Infrastructure and TransLink B次元官网网址� Michael Lee
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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