Horgan to be sworn in as premier, to name cabinet July 18th in Victoria
Posted July 6, 2017 11:34 am.
Last Updated July 6, 2017 11:35 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) — Following a bizarre election that saw the BC Liberals fall from power for the first time in 16 years, we’re getting a better idea of what the new NDP government will look like.
Party Leader John Horgan says he will announce his cabinet when he is sworn in as the next premier on July 18th at Government House in Victoria.
Earlier this week it was announced long-time City of Vancouver Councillor Geoff Meggs had resigned to take on the job of chief of staff for Horgan. Meggs previously worked as former NDP premier Glen Clark’s director of communications.
It was also announced on Tuesday that Don Wright, the chief executive officer at Central 1 Credit Union and a former president of the BCIT, will be the head of the public service and the premier’s deputy minister.
Bob Dewar, who was recruited from Manitoba to help run the NDP’s election campaign, will serve as special adviser to the premier.
The legislature is not expected to reconvene until after the Labour Day long weekend.
Horgan is taking over after Christy Clark and company lost a non-confidence vote of 44-42 during an historical moment in BC politics.
Following the May 9th election that saw the Liberals win a minority government, the NDP and BC Green Party struck an alliance to topple the Liberals. However, some experts predict British Columbians could be back at the polls by next year.
After May’s vote, the Liberals had 43 seats, the NDP 41 and the Greens three.
The new NDP government faces some hurdles, because even with the support of the three Green members of the legislature, the New Democrats can only count on 44 votes in the 87-seat legislature, putting them in a tricky situation.
