Premier Christy Clark will unveil her new cabinet in Vancouver this week, forgoing the usual launch at Government House in Victoria.
Clark’s new ministers will be announced on Friday, the premier’s office said.
The new cabinet is expected to include a mixture of rookie MLAs along with the return of many Liberal veterans who won re-election on May 14.
There are three immediate holes to fill, with the election losses of Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid and Aboriginal Relations Minister Ida Chong, and the retirement of Pat Bell, leaving vacant the post of jobs minister.
There is also the matter of the Advanced Education Ministry. John Yap resigned from that portfolio in March amid an ethnic outreach scandal, and the job was being filled by Ralph Sultan, who is also the minister responsible for seniors.
And, there’s expected to be at least one new ministry — Natural Gas Development. Clark promised to create that ministry in her Liberal re-election platform.
It’s unusual for a premier to announce a cabinet outside of Government House. Typically, cabinets are sworn in and unveiled during a single ceremony with the lieutenant-governor.
Clark will consult with Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon, and formally take her cabinet to Government House the following Monday, June 10, her office said.
The Vancouver venue, which has not yet been named, will be larger than the Government House ballroom and allow for five to six times the guests, the premier’s office said.
Vancouver Island has only two Liberal MLAs, both of whom are in cabinet contention.
Comox Valley’s Don McRae was promoted to cabinet by Clark in 2011 and currently serves as education minister. Parksville-Qualicum MLA-elect Michelle Stilwell was a handpicked star candidate of Clark’s during the election campaign, and is widely-reported to be in contention for a cabinet post.
