Christy Clark ministry explained

Cabinet Name:Christy Clark ministry
Cabinet Type:ministry
Cabinet Number:35th
Jurisdiction:British Columbia
Flag:Flag of British Columbia.svg
Flag Border:true
Government Head Title:Premier
Government Head:Christy Clark
Deputy Government Head Title:Deputy Premier
Deputy Government Head:
State Head Title:Monarch
State Head:Elizabeth II
Represented By Title:Lieutenant Governor
Represented By:
Political Party:Liberal Party
Opposition Party:New Democratic Party
Opposition Leader:
Election:2013, 2017
Legislature Status:
Incoming Formation:2011 Liberal leadership election
Outgoing Formation:2017 government formation
Predecessor:Campbell ministry
Successor:Horgan ministry

The Christy Clark ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from March 14, 2011, to July 18, 2017. It was led by Christy Clark, the 35th premier of British Columbia, and consisted of members of the British Columbia Liberal Party.

The ministry replaced the Campbell ministry, when Gordon Campbell stepped down as premier during the 39th Parliament of British Columbia and was replaced as premier by Clark.[1] It maintained power in the 40th Parliament of British Columbia after the 2013 general election. After the 2017 general election resulted in a hung parliament, it attempted to stay in power as a minority government, but fell less than two months later as a result of a successful non-confidence motion on June 29, 2017. It was replaced by the Horgan ministry.[2]

List of ministers

PortfolioMinisterTenure
Premier of British ColumbiaChristy ClarkMarch 14, 2011 – July 18, 2017
Deputy Premier of British ColumbiaKevin FalconMarch 14, 2011 – August 29, 2012
vacantAugust 29, 2012 – September 5, 2012
Rich ColemanSeptember 5, 2012 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and ReconciliationMary PolakMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Ida ChongSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
John RustadJune 10, 2013 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Advanced EducationNaomi YamamotoMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
John YapSeptember 5, 2012 – March 4, 2013
Ralph SultanMarch 4, 2013 – June 10, 2013
Amrik VirkJune 10, 2013 – December 18, 2014
Andrew WilkinsonDecember 18, 2014 – June 12, 2017
Linda ReidJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of AgricultureDon McRaeMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Norm LetnickSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Pat PimmJune 10, 2013 – April 11, 2014
Norm LetnickApril 11, 2014 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Children and Family DevelopmentMary McNeilMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Stephanie CadieuxSeptember 5, 2012 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Citizens' Services and Open GovernmentBen StewartSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural DevelopmentIda ChongMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Bill BennettSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Coralee OakesJune 10, 2013 – July 30, 2015
Peter FassbenderJuly 30, 2015 – June 12, 2017
Sam SullivanJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of EducationGeorge AbbottMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Don McRaeSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Peter FassbenderJune 10, 2013 – July 30, 2015
Mike BernierJuly 30, 2015 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Energy and MinesRich ColemanMarch 14, 2011 – June 10, 2013
Bill BennettJune 10, 2013 – June 12, 2017
Rich ColemanJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of EnvironmentTerry LakeMarch 14, 2011 – June 10, 2013
Mary PolakJune 10, 2013 – June 12, 2017
Jordan SturdyJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of FinanceKevin FalconMarch 14, 2011 – August 29, 2012
Shirley BondAugust 29, 2012 – September 5, 2012
Mike de JongSeptember 5, 2012 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource OperationsSteve ThomsonMarch 14, 2011 – June 22, 2017
John RustadJune 22, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of HealthMike de JongMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Margaret MacDiarmidSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Terry LakeJune 10, 2013 – June 12, 2017
Mary PolakJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister responsible for HousingRich ColemanMarch 14, 2011 – June 12, 2017
Ellis RossJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of International Trade (and Asia Pacific Strategy)Teresa WatJune 10, 2013 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills TrainingPat BellMarch 14, 2011 – June 10, 2013
Shirley BondJune 10, 2013 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Justice and Attorney GeneralBarry PennerMarch 14, 2011 – August 18, 2011
Shirley BondAugust 18, 2011 – June 10, 2013
Suzanne AntonJune 10, 2013 – June 12, 2017
Andrew WilkinsonJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Labour, Citizens' Services and Open GovernmentStephanie CadieuxMarch 14, 2011 – September 26, 2011
Margaret MacDiarmidSeptember 26, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Minister responsible for LabourPat BellSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Shirley BondJune 10, 2013 – July 18, 2017
Minister of State for MulticulturalismHarry BloyMarch 14, 2011 – March 16, 2012
John YapMarch 24, 2012 – September 5, 2012
Minister responsible for MulticulturalismHarry BloyMarch 14, 2011 – September 26, 2011
John YapSeptember 5, 2012 – March 4, 2013
Ralph SultanMarch 4, 2013 – March 21, 2013
Mike de JongMarch 21, 2013 – June 10, 2017
Teresa WatJune 10, 2013 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Natural Gas DevelopmentRich ColemanJune 10, 2013 – June 12, 2017
Ellis RossJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor GeneralShirley BondMarch 14, 2011 – February 8, 2012
Mike MorrisDecember 11, 2015 – July 18, 2017
Minister of State for Rural Economic DevelopmentDonna BarnettOctober 21, 2015 – July 18, 2017
Minister of State for SeniorsRalph SultanSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Minister of State for Small BusinessNaomi YamamotoSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Coralee OakesJuly 30, 2015 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Social DevelopmentHarry BloyMarch 14, 2011 – September 26, 2011
Stephanie CadieuxSeptember 26, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Moira StilwellSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Don McRaeJune 10, 2013 – February 2, 2015
Michelle StilwellFebruary 2, 2015 – July 18, 2017
Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' ServicesAndrew WilkinsonJune 10, 2013 – December 18, 2014
Amrik VirkDecember 18, 2014 – June 12, 2017
Jas JohalJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Minister of State for Tourism and Small BusinessNaomi YamamotoJune 10, 2013 – July 30, 2015
Minister responsible for TransLinkPeter FassbenderJuly 30, 2015 – June 12, 2017
Sam SullivanJune 12, 2017 – July 18, 2017
Blair LekstromMarch 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012
Mary PolakSeptember 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
Todd StoneJune 10, 2013 – July 18, 2017

Cabinet shuffles

On August 18, 2011, Barry Penner stepped down as attorney general after announcing his impending retirement from politics. Shirley Bond was appointed to replace him, holding dual roles as attorney general and solicitor general.[3]

Clark first shuffled her cabinet on September 26, 2011, demoting Harry Bloy from Minister of Social Development to Minister of State for Multiculturalism, and moving Stephanie Cadieux into Bloy's old portfolio and Margaret MacDiarmid into Cadieux's.[4]

Clark initiated her first major shuffle on September 5, 2012. The shuffle was prompted by several veteran Liberals deciding not to seek election in the then-upcoming 2013 election. Among the ministers departing were Kevin Falcon and George Abbott, while those taking on new portfolios included Rich Coleman (deputy premier) and Mike de Jong (finance).[5]

Following the ministry's re-election in the 2013 election, Clark again shuffled her cabinet. The 19-member cabinet consisted of nine members who were already in cabinet, seven newly elected members, and two prior-elected members from the backbenches. Among those joining were Suzanne Anton (justice) and Peter Fassbender (education). Coleman, in addition to retaining his position as deputy premier, took the additional role as Minister of Housing and the first Minister of Natural Gas Development.[6] Columnist Keith Baldry noted that many of the ministries that receive the most media attention and coverage would be helmed by new ministers, allowing the government to present a "fresh face" and move on from the Campbell era.[7]

Following the 2017 election, on June 12, Clark appointed a new cabinet. The shuffle was prompted, in part, by the defeat of five ministers in the election and the retirement of a sixth. Five rookie ministers joined cabinet, including Ellis Ross, BC's first elected indigenous cabinet minister with a portfolio. Several existing ministers were shuffled to different portfolios; Clark downplayed the changes, describing the government as being in "caretaker mode" and that it wouldn't pursue any new policies, but added "the team reflects the results of listening to what voters told us in the last election."[8] [9]

References

Sources

Web site: Christy Clark Cabinet 2011–2017 . July 13, 2022 . Legislative Library of British Columbia.

Notes and References

  1. News: B.C. Premier Christy Clark sworn in, unveils cabinet. February 27, 2013. CTV News. March 14, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20140903112742/http://www.ctvnews.ca/b-c-premier-christy-clark-sworn-in-unveils-cabinet-1.618473#. September 3, 2014. live.
  2. News: Keller . James . Hunter . Justine . Hager . Mike . B.C. NDP to take power following confidence vote, ending 16 years of Liberal rule . June 29, 2017. June 30, 2017 . The Globe and Mail . https://web.archive.org/web/20170706190952/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/christy-clarks-liberals-lose-confidence-vote/article35500474/# . July 6, 2017 . live.
  3. News: Kines . Lindsay . 2011-08-19 . Attorney general cites family reasons, to stay on as MLA until next vote . A1 . Times Colonist.
  4. Web site: September 26, 2011 . CityNews . July 13, 2022 . vancouver.citynews.ca.
  5. Web site: Hunter . Justine . September 5, 2011 . Clark shuffles cabinet to 'set the foundation' ahead of 2013 election . https://web.archive.org/web/20120908070238/http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/clark-shuffles-cabinet-puts-tax-breaks-before-next-election-on-table/article4520567/ . September 8, 2012 . The Globe and Mail.
  6. News: June 10, 2013 . B.C. Premier Christy Clark, cabinet sworn in . . July 13, 2022.
  7. Web site: Premier proves adept at cabinet shuffle . July 18, 2022 . Richmond News . en.
  8. Web site: Meissner. Dirk. June 12, 2017. B.C. Liberal cabinet sworn in as defeat looms for minority government. October 2, 2020. CTVNews. en. November 7, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201107015903/https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/b-c-liberal-cabinet-sworn-in-as-defeat-looms-for-minority-government-1.3456644. live.
  9. Web site: Brown . Scott . June 12, 2017 . B.C. Premier Christy Clark introduces new cabinet . July 19, 2022 . vancouversun . en-CA.