The B.C. Liberal opposition has selected its critics to respond to Premier John Horgan乌鸦传媒檚 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.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 about leading by example,乌鸦传媒� Bond said of her own role in releasing the lineup Nov. 30. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 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.乌鸦传媒�
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 government乌鸦传媒檚 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 乌鸦传媒渟upport multiple critic roles乌鸦传媒� 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 乌鸦传媒� Coralee Oakes
Agriculture and Food 乌鸦传媒� Ian Paton
Attorney General 乌鸦传媒� Mike de Jong
Citizens乌鸦传媒� Services 乌鸦传媒� Bruce Banman
Children, Family Development and Child Care 乌鸦传媒� Karin Kirkpatrick
Columbia Basin Initiatives 乌鸦传媒� Doug Clovechok
Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation 乌鸦传媒� Tom Shypitka
Education 乌鸦传媒� Jackie Tegart
Environment and Climate Change Strategy 乌鸦传媒� Ellis Ross
Finance 乌鸦传媒� Mike Bernier
Fisheries, Aquaculture and BC Ferries 乌鸦传媒� Jordan Sturdy
Forests, Lands, & Natural Resources 乌鸦传媒� John Rustad
Gender Equity, Accessibility & Inclusion 乌鸦传媒� Stephanie Cadieux
Health 乌鸦传媒� Renee Merrifield
Housing 乌鸦传媒� Ben Stewart
Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation 乌鸦传媒� Peter Milobar
Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation 乌鸦传媒� Todd Stone
Labour 乌鸦传媒� Greg Kyllo
Mental Health and Addictions 乌鸦传媒� Trevor Halford
Municipal Affairs 乌鸦传媒� Dan Ashton
Public Safety and Solicitor General 乌鸦传媒� Mike Morris
Rural Development 乌鸦传媒� Lorne Doerksen
Seniors Services & Long Term Care 乌鸦传媒� Shirley Bond
Social Development and Poverty Reduction 乌鸦传媒� Dan Davies
Tourism, Arts and Culture, and Anti-Racism Initiatives 乌鸦传媒� Teresa Wat
Transportation, Infrastructure and TransLink 乌鸦传媒� Michael Lee
tfletcher@blackpress.ca
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