Experienced New Democrats like Adrian Dix, whom Eby recently dubbed the “best health minister in Canada,” Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside and Transportation Minister Rob Fleming, are likely to keep their jobs.
Katrina Chen, minister of state for child care, is a strong bet for promotion due to her successful handling of B.C.’s affordable child care roll out.
The 39-year-old, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed, is a close ally of Eby’s, co-chairing his NDP leadership campaign alongside Ravi Kahlon, minister of jobs, economic recovery and innovation.
Kahlon, MLA for Delta North, would have been tough competition for Eby had he decided to compete for the premier’s job. He’s trusted by the small business community for his roll out of COVID relief measures and will likely be rewarded with a higher profile ministry.
Finance Minister Selina Robinson recently delivered the good news that B.C. has a $5.7 billion budget surplus, which leaves political watchers divided on whether she’ll remain in the finance post or be reassigned to another ministry.
Bowinn Ma, a 37-year-old engineer who is currently minister of state for infrastructure, could be a possible pick to lead the environment and climate change portfolio following her climate manifesto on Twitter on July 6, before Eby declared his candidacy, calling for a premier who is a “climate champion” and a “sunset to the fossil fuel industry.”
However, George Heyman, an environmental activist who previous led the Sierra Club of B.C., has been praised for his work in rolling out the ambitious Clean B.C. climate change plan. That raises the possibility that Eby could split the environment and climate change ministry in two to reflect his priorities in meeting the province’s emission reduction targets, Ferrier said.
Hamish Telford, associate professor of political science at the University of the Fraser Valley, said Eby will be looking to maintain gender parity in the cabinet, promote diversity and ensure representation in key election battlegrounds such as Surrey, Langley and Richmond.
Currently the cabinet is overrepresented with MLAs from Vancouver Island and is under-represented in the Fraser Valley, Telford said. As a result, Dan Coulter, MLA for Chilliwack and parliamentary secretary for accessibility, could be a cabinet contender to boost representation in that region.
With the B.C. Liberals keeping the pressure on the government to deal with prolific offenders, it’s likely Farnworth — a veteran politician dubbed the “janitor” for his reputation in cleaning up other ministers’ messes — is safe in his job.
During the fall session, Farnworth often stepped in to bail out Murray Rankin in question period when his rebuttals to the B.C. Liberals — who detailed a host of violent random crimes plaguing unsuspecting citizens including mothers pushing strollers — amounted to dry facts which appeared to lack empathy.
The 72-year-old Rankin is doing triple duty as minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, attorney general and minister responsible for housing, tapped for the latter two files in July when Eby stepped down to run for leader.
