Fassbender’s TransLink job tops modest cabinet shuffle

It didn’t take long for Peter Fassbender to make his presence felt at TransLink. Appointed in a recent cabinet shuffle as minister responsible for the beleaguered transit body, Fassbender called for a halt to an executive search for a new chief executive officer launched two weeks ago. Departing interim CEO Doug Allen, whose term expires on Monday, had expressed hope the search would be concluded “as soon as practical,” but Fassbender seems in no hurry to fill the post.

He told Vancouver Sun Victoria bureau chief Rob Shaw he first wants to sort out the relationship between the mayors’ council, TransLink’s board of directors and management, and the provincial government before recruiting candidates. “Any person worth their salt who would apply for the job would want to have that work done before they accept the position,” Fassbender said.

Beyond that bit of common sense, Fassbender’s decision to delay the search may assuage critics’ concerns over the terms posted for a new TransLink CEO that included many of the same benefits that triggered public outrage previously. Fassbender has acknowledged the pay package is too rich (the 30 per cent bonus on the base salary of $319,255 would bring annual compensation to more than $415,000, plus annual allowances for a vehicle, parking and wellness amounting to nearly $20,000).

Premier Christy Clark’s rejigging of her front bench moved Fassbender from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and removed TransLink from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, leaving Transport Minister Todd Stone to focus on other matters, such as a review of the motor coach industry, an examination of provincial highway and bridge tolls, a $107-million project to relieve congestion at several Trans-Canada Highway intersections on Vancouver Island and, of course, cycling routes.

The shuffle elevated backbencher Mike Bernier to Education Minister and moved Coralee Oakes from Community, Sport and Cultural Development to a new Ministry of Small Business and Red-tape Reduction, responsible for the liquor distribution branch. Naomi Yamamoto, junior minister of state for Tourism, becomes minister of state of Emergency Preparedness. Liquor distribution and emergency preparedness had both been under the auspices of Justice Minister Suzanne Anton, who has been given a new mandate letter instructing her to work with the federal government to reduce gun violence in British Columbia and improve community safety.

The modest cabinet rearrangement doesn’t signal a change in direction of Clark’s government, but may bring a fresh approach to the few departments affected. B.C. Teachers’ Federation president Jim Iker said he hopes rookie MLA Mike Bernier brings “fresh eyes” to the education ministry on such issues as class size and composition, while Bernier called his appointment “a great opportunity.”

Clearly, the headline in the shuffle was Fassbender’s reassignment from one difficult task to another. Having delivered the long-term contract with the teachers’ union Clark was counting on, Fassbender is expected to achieve similar success with TransLink.

We can only wish him the best of luck. He’ll need it.