New B.C. NDP cabinet to focus on 'kitchen table' issues, premier says

As B.C. Premier David Eby prepares to swear in his cabinet Monday, he says the public should expect a roster of ministers who will focus on the issues British Columbians are struggling with, including affordability, health care and public safety.

"They want us to be focused on the basics — the issues that they're thinking about around the kitchen table, affordability, the cost of daily life," Eby said Wednesday after his 47 MLAs were sworn into the legislature. 

The cabinet will include many rookie MLAs, as just 14 of the 27 cabinet ministers from Eby's previous roster are returning to government. 

"What they're shorter [on] than they were before is experienced cabinet hands who can play a role in some of those heavy-hitting ministries," said Geoff Meggs, the former chief of staff for premier John Horgan. 

Eby also faces a challenge in representing the entire province, particularly rural B.C. 

Only five of the 47 elected NDP MLAs are in ridings outside the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. 

Those five include Harwinder Sandhu, who was re-elected in Vernon-Lumby and Brittny Anderson, who kept her seat in Kootenay Central.

Newcomers include Steve Morissette of Kootenay-Monashee, Tamara Davidson of North Coast-Haida Gwaii and Randene Neill of Powell River-Sunshine Coast.

Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey, a former tech executive, is a likely contender for the role of finance minister. 

Many are watching to see whether Adrian Dix, who has served as health minister for almost eight years, will be shuffled to another ministry. 

"Eight years is a long time in any job," says Meggs, a friend of Dix. "No one works harder, but he could be very useful to the premier in another role."

Meggs says the public expects a health minister who will keep emergency rooms open all the time, an issue that has plagued rural and remote communities as they continue to struggle with persistent emergency room closures due to short staffing. 

High-profile ministers in the previous government, like Bowinn Ma, Ravi Kahlon, Niki Sharma and Mike Farnworth, are expected to remain in prominent roles.

Eby acknowledged his party's slim majority could require across-the-aisle co-operation to pass legislation. But he has set some limits on who he'll work with.