Lake doesn’t shift in cabinet shuffle

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake remains environment minister following the B.C. Liberal cabinet shuffle on Wednesday, Sept. 5. Lake has also been named deputy government house leader, under government house leader Michael de Jong, the province’s new finance minister. 

KTW FILE PHOTO

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Premier Christy Clark shuffled the deck today, after many key members of her cabinet recently decided not to run in the upcoming provincial election.

Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake remains environment minister. He has also been named deputy government house leader, under government house leader Michael de Jong, the province’s new finance minister.

In addition, Lake is vice-chair of the cabinet environment and land-use committee and a member of the cabinet priorities and planning committee and treasury board.

Lake told KTW he is excited to be on the planning and priorities committee.

“It’s probably the most influential cabinet committee, so that’s some extra responsibility,” he said. “So, I’m happy about that.”

Kevin Krueger, the Kamloops-South Thompson MLA who will not seek re-election in the May 2013 election, was named as a member of the cabinet committee on open government and engagement.

Some key moves: De Jong slots in as the new finance minister; Margaret MacDiarmid moves to health, Mary Polak to the transportation ministry; Don McRae in as new education minister; while Rich Colman will stay as energy minister.

MacDiarmid’s appointment as health minister is believed to be the first time in B.C. that a doctor has control of that portfolio.

MLAs are paid $101,859 per year and earn additional salaries for holding parliamentary or ministerial positions. For example, all cabinet ministers, including Lake, are paid an addtional $50,929.50 a year on top of their MLA salary of $101,859. Ministers of state receive an extra $35,650 per year and parliamentary secretaries receive an extra $15,278.

If an MLA holds two or more positions that entail additonal salary, they are paid only the higher salary. For a full list of MLA pay, go online here.

Executive council:

Premier — Christy Clark

Minister for Energy, Mines and Natural Gas and Minister Responsible for Housing and Deputy Premier — Rich Coleman

Minister of Finance — Mike de Jong

Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation — Ida Chong

Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism — John Yap

Minister of Agriculture — Norm Letnick

Minister of Children and Family Development — Stephanie Cadieux

Minister of Citizens’ Services and Open Government — Ben Stewart

Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development — Bill Bennett

Minister of Education — Don McRae

Minister of Environment — Terry Lake

Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations — Steve Thomson

Minister of Health — Margaret MacDiarmid

Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour — Pat Bell

Minister of Justice and Attorney General — Shirley Bond

Minister of Social Development — Moira Stilwell

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure — Mary Polak

Minister of State for Small Business — Naomi Yamamoto

Minister of State for Seniors — Ralph Sultan.

Additionally, nine MLAs have been named as parliamentary secretaries, and will work with ministers to focus on key initiatives of government, such as independent schools, student support and engagement, Asia-Pacific, and forestry. Doug Horne will serve as the parliamentary secretary to the Premier.

Mike de Jong will serve as the Government House Leader and Terry Lake will be the Deputy Government House Leader. Eric Foster will be the Government Whip and Pat Pimm will be Deputy Whip.

Parliamentary Secretaries:

Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier — Doug Horne

Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Communities to the Minister Community, Sport and Cultural Development — Donna Barnett

Parliamentary Secretary for Asia Pacific to the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training — Richard Lee

Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry to the Minister of Forests, Land and Natural Resource Operations — John Rustad

Parliamentary Secretary for Independent Schools to the Minister of Education — Marc Dalton

Parliamentary Secretary for Student Support and Parent Engagement to the Minister of Education — Jane Thornthwaite

Parliamentary Secretary for Non-Profit Partnerships to the Minister of Social Development — Gordon Hogg

Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation & Technology to the Minister of Advanced Education, Innovation and Technology — Ron Cantelon

Parliamentary Secretary for the Northeast to the Minister of Energy, Mines, and Natural Gas — Pat Pimm.

Cabinet Committees:

Priorities and Planning Committee:

Premier Christy Clark (chair)

Rich Coleman (vice-chair)

Pat Bell

Michael de Jong

Mary Polak

Don McRae

Bill Bennett

Terry Lake

Colin Hansen

John Les

Treasury Board:

Mike de Jong (chair)

Shirley Bond (vice-chair)

Ida Chong

Rich Coleman

Pat Bell

Terry Lake

Ben Stewart

Colin Hansen

John Les

John Rustad

Doug Horne

Cabinet Working Group on Family Affordability:

Mike De Jong (chair)

Bill Bennett (vice-chair)

Rich Coleman

Mary Polak

Don McRae

Cabinet Committee on Jobs & Skills Training:

Pat Bell (chair)

Mary Polak (vice-chair)

John Yap

Steve Thomson

Blair Lekstrom

Naomi Yamamoto

Donna Barnett

Harry Bloy

Rob Howard

Richard Lee

Ron Cantelon

Dave Hayer

Cabinet Committee on Families First:

Margaret MacDiarmid (chair)

Stephanie Cadieux (vice-chair)

Don McRae

Moira Stilwell

Ralph Sultan

Marc Dalton

Gordon Hogg

Joan McIntyre

Jane Thornthwaite

Mary McNeil

Cabinet Committee on Open Government and Engagement:

Ben Stewart (chair)

Stephanie Cadieux (vice-chair)

John Yap

Ralph Sultan

Gordon Hogg

Kevin Krueger

Richard Lee

John Slater

Environment and Land Use Committee:

Steve Thomson (chair)

Terry Lake (vice-chair)

Bill Bennett

Rich Coleman

Ida Chong

Murray Coell

Eric Foster

Randy Hawes

Pat Pimm

John Rustad

Norm Letnick

Legislative Review Committee:

Shirley Bond (Chair)

Michael de Jong (Vice Chair)

Blair Lekstrom

Ida Chong

Doug Horne

Norm Letnick

John Rustad

Ralph Sultan