Close X
Thursday, November 7, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C.'s new cabinet to be sworn in Nov. 18 after this week's judicial recounts

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 06 Nov, 2024 04:46 PM
  • B.C.'s new cabinet to be sworn in Nov. 18 after this week's judicial recounts

British Columbia's new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on Nov. 18, almost a month after the provincial election that gave Premier David Eby's New Democrats the slimmest of majorities, pending recounts.

A statement from Eby's office Wednesday said the swearing-in dates of cabinet and members of the legislature have been set based on the judicial recounts in three ridings and reporting information from Elections BC.

Eby is conducting interviews this week with every member of the NDP caucus ahead of the cabinet swearing in.

The 47 New Democrats, including Eby, give the party a one-seat majority in the legislature, pending recounts.

Of the NDP's new caucus, 29 are returning members of the legislature and 18 are newly elected.

Among those new to the provincial government are: Tamara Davidson, of North Coast-Haida Gwaii, a Council of the Haida Nation elected representative; Steve Morissette, of Kootenay-Monashee, a former mayor of Fruitvale; and Randene Neill, of Powell River-Sunshine Coast, a former Global BC broadcaster.

Some of the re-elected New Democrats who hold cabinet posts are: Health Minister Adrian Dix, Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon and Attorney General Niki Sharma.

Among the re-elected New Democrats who were not in the government's cabinet or held parliamentary secretary positions are: Brittny Anderson, Kootenay Central; Harwinder Sandhu, Vernon-Lumby; and Ravi Parmar, Langford-Highlands.

Eby said in the statement that the judicial recounts taking place Thursday and Friday will ensure every vote is counted. 

After those recounts, he said B.C. residents want to see "urgent action" on priorities including affordability and housing, health care, and building a strong economy.

The first step will be swearing in the new cabinet at a ceremony in Victoria, where he will present his recommendations to Lt.-Gov. Janet Austin, he said.

The statement said a transition team co-chaired by Eby's special counsel on Indigenous reconciliation, Doug White, and Shannon Salter, the premier's deputy minister and head of the public service, will make recommendations about selection of ministers and the formation of ministries in the new government.

Newly elected members of the legislature are set to be sworn in and formally invited to take their seats before cabinet's swearing in, it said.

The Opposition caucus and B.C. Green Party MLAs are scheduled to be sworn in on Nov. 12, while government caucus MLAs will be sworn in the next day.

MORE National ARTICLES

North Vancouver declares state of local emergency, 3 homes evacuated after heavy rain

North Vancouver declares state of local emergency, 3 homes evacuated after heavy rain
The District of North Vancouver has declared a state of local emergency and ordered three homes evacuated in the Deep Cove neighbourhood over concerns debris left behind from last weekend's atmospheric river could pose a safety risk. A statement late Saturday from the district says that during the heavy rain, debris filled the channels of Ostler and Panorama Creeks "limiting their capacity to withstand future heavy rainfall events."

North Vancouver declares state of local emergency, 3 homes evacuated after heavy rain

Monthly food bank use soars to record 2 million, driven by cost of groceries, housing

Monthly food bank use soars to record 2 million, driven by cost of groceries, housing
Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley said food banks are being pushed to “the brink” and low-income Canadians need help immediately. The report calls on governments to introduce measures that include rent assistance and a monthly payment to low-income groups to help off-set rent and food costs.

Monthly food bank use soars to record 2 million, driven by cost of groceries, housing

After doubling down on leadership, Trudeau hits deadline to respond to caucus letter

After doubling down on leadership, Trudeau hits deadline to respond to caucus letter
Justin Trudeau is supposed to respond today to a group of Liberal MPs demanding his resignation as party leader, but the prime minister has already made his plans clear. At a Liberal caucus meeting Wednesday, 24 MPs delivered a letter to Trudeau asking him to resign and giving him until Monday to respond.

After doubling down on leadership, Trudeau hits deadline to respond to caucus letter

Absentee ballot count could settle B.C.'s election, nine days after vote

Absentee ballot count could settle B.C.'s election, nine days after vote
Neither Premier David Eby's New Democrats nor John Rustad's B.C. Conservatives emerged from the weekend with the magic number of 47 seats required to form a majority in the province's 93-seat legislature. But the counting increased the prospects for an NDP government, when the Conservative lead in Surrey-Guildford was cut to just 12 votes.

Absentee ballot count could settle B.C.'s election, nine days after vote

Poilievre promises to abolish federal sales tax on new homes under $1 million

Poilievre promises to abolish federal sales tax on new homes under $1 million
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre says if his party forms government, it will scrap the federal sales tax on new homes sold for less than $1 million and push provinces to do the same. Poilievre made the case for the cut in a six-minute video published online, arguing governments are partly to blame for high home prices because they're charging too much in sales taxes.

Poilievre promises to abolish federal sales tax on new homes under $1 million

B.C. port employers, foremen's union return to negotiation table with mediator

B.C. port employers, foremen's union return to negotiation table with mediator
The BC Maritime Employers Association says in a statement that it will meet Oct. 29 with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 514, which represents about 700 port foremen. 

B.C. port employers, foremen's union return to negotiation table with mediator