Premier John Horgan continued to fill out the province’s leadership positions Thursday, announcing appointments to major Crown corporations and government organizations to replace Liberal appointees.
In a statement, Horgan said it’s part of the NDP government’s plan to tackle affordability. “For 16 years under the Liberal government, ordinary people struggled to get ahead — nowhere have they seen that more than in out-of-control housing and Hydro costs,” he said.
Kenneth Peterson has been named chairman of B.C. Hydro, replacing Brad Bennett, who was one of B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark’s election campaign advisers and president of real estate investment firm McIntosh Properties.
Peterson is former CEO of Powerex, the marketing and trading subsidiary of B.C. Hydro. Since 2006, he has served as a trustee of North American Reliability Corp., a group that oversees the reliability of power systems.
Cassie Doyle replaces former Vancouver city manager Judy Rogers as chairwoman of the B.C. Housing Management Commission. Doyle is former CEO of Canadian International Resources and Development Institute, which helps developing countries manage their natural resources. She has served as deputy minister in the B.C. and federal governments, and as consul general in San Francisco and Silicon Valley in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Joy MacPhail has been appointed chairwoman of the Insurance Corp. of British Columbia, replacing former Liberal MLA Barry Penner. MacPhail previously served in ministerial roles, including minister of health, minister of finance and deputy premier, for the B.C. NDP. She is co-owner of LGBT television network OUTtv, has served as director of Delta Hotels and Silverbirch Hotels and Resorts, and was vice-chair of the B.C. Cancer Foundation.
Cathy McLay will be an ICBC director. McLay is Translink’s chief financial officer and executive vice-president, finance and corporate services. She is on the board of directors for Coast Mountain Bus Company, Providence Health Care and the B.C. Rapid Transit Company.
The NDP platform included promises to freeze B.C. Hydro rates and limits on ICBC rate increases. The party also promised operating reviews of B.C. Hydro and ICBC to look for inefficiencies, fiscal mismanagement and cost savings that don’t impact services.
Horgan said the appointees can all deliver effective leadership that would benefit the public. “They will work hard to ensure the organizations they are responsible for are well managed, properly governed and well aligned with the government’s mandate, and I know they are ready to get to work building a better B.C. for everyone,” he said.
