HORGAN UNVEILS CABINET
Dix stays put to lead COVID-19 fight
Premier John Horgan, faced with record-setting daily COVID-19 infections, chose not to dramatically expand his new cabinet on Thursday. Instead, he refreshed about half the portfolios while leaving stalwart Adrian Dix in charge of the government's health response.
Horgan picked 20 ministers, about the same size cabinet he had before winning last month's provincial election. His choice to leave Dix in health care indicates he's staying the course on his government's health response to the crisis, even as he warns the outbreak will likely get worse.
“These are extraordinarily difficult times for all of us,” said
Horgan. “Families across British Columbia are struggling with the burdens of pandemic, now in its ninth month with little chance that it's receding in the short term.
“We are buoyed by the good news of vaccines on the way, but until then, we have to continue to do our level best to keep the second wave of COVID-19 under control and prepare for the new year.”
The premier's cabinet selection does indicate change in two other areas.
Horgan named Jennifer Whiteside, who quit last month as secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees' Union to run for the NDP in New Westminster, as the new education minister.
Whiteside's strong union connections are seen as key to re-establishing a relationship with the B.C. Teachers' Federation, which has been sharply critical of government's refusal to lower class sizes and undertake certain safety measures upon reopening schools during COVID-19.