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

Eby makes late pitch to people who have never voted New Democrat in B.C

Eby makes late pitch to people who have never voted New Democrat in B.C
Eby says there hasn't been an election as significant "for a generation," on the day the rival B.C. Conservative Party is poised to release its costed platform and just four days before election day on Saturday. Elections BC says about 597,000 people have already voted in four days of advance polling.

Eby makes late pitch to people who have never voted New Democrat in B.C

Founders of Vancouver club that sold tested illicit drugs file Charter challenge

Founders of Vancouver club that sold tested illicit drugs file Charter challenge
The founders of a Vancouver "compassion club" that sold heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine bought on the dark web and tested for contaminants, have filed a court challenge arguing their Charter rights and the rights of users were violated when the club was shut and they were arrested. 

Founders of Vancouver club that sold tested illicit drugs file Charter challenge

Canada and U.S. list Samidoun as terrorist group, U.S. adds Canadian to terror list

Canada and U.S. list Samidoun as terrorist group, U.S. adds Canadian to terror list
Canada is listing the pro-Palestinian group Samidoun as a terrorist group, while the U.S. has added a Canadian citizen affiliated with the organization to its counter-terrorism list. Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Samidoun will now be listed under Criminal Code offences that ban people from donating or providing property to the group.

Canada and U.S. list Samidoun as terrorist group, U.S. adds Canadian to terror list

Why India and Canada are in an escalating rift, with each expelling diplomats

Why India and Canada are in an escalating rift, with each expelling diplomats
Ottawa's decision to expel India's top envoy and five other diplomats have given rise to greater tensions that have simmered for months between the two countries with Sikh groups calling for Indian consulates to be shut down in Vancouver and Toronto. 

Why India and Canada are in an escalating rift, with each expelling diplomats

Carbon pricing rebates land in bank accounts as Liberals defend embattled policy

Carbon pricing rebates land in bank accounts as Liberals defend embattled policy
Canadians are set to receive carbon pricing rebates Tuesday, as the Liberals defend one of their most embattled policies. The government says this is the first time all banks will label the payment as the Canada Carbon Rebate, after years of inconsistent and vague phrasing on bank statements.

Carbon pricing rebates land in bank accounts as Liberals defend embattled policy

B.C. Conservatives expected to release costs of promises days before election

B.C. Conservatives expected to release costs of promises days before election
It's the last week of the British Columbia election campaign after a busy long weekend of promises for the B.C. Conservatives, including a new Children's Hospital for Surrey. B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad is expected to explain how he's going to pay for all his promises, from the so-called Rustad rebate to exempt up to $3,000 a month of rent or mortgage payments from taxes, to the plan to eliminate the carbon tax. 

B.C. Conservatives expected to release costs of promises days before election