Premier Christy Clark's new cabinet, which is focused on creating jobs, building B.C.'s economy and creating a debt-free province for future generations, was officially sworn-in today.

"Our new cabinet will reflect the priorities of British Columbians," said Premier Clark. "Together, we will focus on creating jobs and building a strong economy - because that is the single most important thing we can do to create the best possible future for our citizens. I'm proud to work with this talented, diverse, and capable group."

The new cabinet is made up of 19 ministers, plus the Premier.

The new cabinet appointed and sworn into office by the Lieutenant-Governor in a ceremony today is:

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• Deputy Premier and Minister Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing - Hon. Rich Coleman

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• Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation - Hon. John Rustad

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• Minister of Advanced Education - Hon. Amrik Virk

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• Minister of Agriculture - Hon. Pat Pimm

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• Minister of Children and Family Development - Hon. Stephanie Cadieux

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• Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development - Hon. Coralee Oakes

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• Minister of Education - Hon. Peter Fassbender

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• Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review - Hon. Bill Bennett

• Minister of Environment - Hon. Mary Polak

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• Minister of Finance and Government House Leader - Hon. Michael de Jong

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• Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations - Hon. Steve Thomson

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• Minister of Health - Hon. Terry Lake

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• Minister of International Trade and Minister Responsible for the Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism - Hon. Teresa Wat

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• Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour - Hon. Shirley Bond

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• Minister of Justice and Attorney General - Hon. Suzanne Anton

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• Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation - Hon. Don McRae

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• Minister of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services - Hon. Andrew Wilkinson

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• Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure and Deputy House Leader - Hon. Todd Stone

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• Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business - Hon. Naomi Yamamoto.

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"This is the first elected term for many of us, and a first opportunity to serve British Columbians over the next four years," said Premier Clark. "Together we will work to create a strong economy and a secure tomorrow. This is our time to build on all the strengths of our province and our people, and truly make British Columbia the economic powerhouse of Canada."

Two backgrounders follow.

Contact:

Ben Chin
Office of the Premier
250 588-3113

Summary of ministry responsibilities

OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

General Responsibilities

• Strategic policy and legislative priorities
• Corporate planning
• Cabinet Operations
• Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat

MINISTRY OF ABORIGINAL RELATIONS AND RECONCILIATION

General Responsibilities

• Aboriginal policy and co-ordination
• Negotiation and implementation of treaty and non-treaty agreements
• Consultation and accommodation policy
• Crown/First Nations relationships
• Partnerships and Community Renewal
• First Citizens' Fund

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• BC Treaty Commission
• First Peoples' Heritage, Language and Culture Council
• Minister's Advisory Council on Aboriginal Women

MINISTRY OF ADVANCED EDUCATION

General Responsibilities

• Universities
• Colleges
• Post-secondary financing
• Post-secondary policy and accountability
• Student financial assistance

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• University boards of governors
• Colleges and institutes
• Private Career Training Institutions Agency
• B.C. college and institute boards
• British Columbia Council on Admissions and Transfers
• Degree Quality Assessment Board

MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE

General Responsibilities

• Agriculture, aquaculture and food industry development
• Animal health and crop/plant protection
• Food safety and quality
• Commercial fisheries and fish processing
• Marine fisheries and seafood industry development
• Crop insurance
• Licensing, inspection and standards for slaughter facilities

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Agricultural Land Commission
• BC Farm Industry Review Board

MINISTRY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

General Responsibilities

• Adoption and reunion services
• Child protection and family development
• Foster care
• Child care
• Early childhood development
• Children and youth with special needs
• Child and youth mental health
• Youth justice programs

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• BC College of Social Workers
• Provincial Child Care Council

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY, SPORT AND CULTURAL DEVELOPMENT

General Responsibilities

• Community Charter
• Local government
• Vancouver Urban Development Agreement
• University Endowment Lands
• Property assessment
• Sports and recreation
• Arts and culture programs
• Community gaming grant eligibility

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Board of Examiners (local government)
• BC Assessment Authority
• BC Games Society
• BC Arts Council
• Property Assessment Appeal Board
• Islands Trust Fund Board
• Provincial Capital Commission
• Royal BC Museum

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

General Responsibilities

• K-12 standards and accountability
• K-12 funding
• Independent schools
• Literacy
• Libraries
• StrongStart BC Early Learning Centres

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Education Advisory Council
• BC Teachers' Council
• Disciplinary and Professional Conduct Board

MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINES (Minister Responsible for Core Review)

General Responsibilities

• Electricity and alternative energy policy
• Energy efficiency
• Renewable energy development
• Innovative Clean Energy Fund
• Mines and minerals policy
• Mineral and coal titles
• Permitting and inspections of major mining projects
• BC Geological Survey
• Core Review

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• BC Hydro and Power Authority
• Columbia Power Corporation
• Columbia Basin Trust

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT

General Responsibilities

• Parks, wilderness and protected areas
• Air, land and water quality standards
• Pollution prevention and waste management
• Conservation Framework and Species-at-Risk policy
• Species and ecosystem protection policy
• Oceans protection and sustainability
• Water protection and water sustainability policy
• Water and air monitoring and reporting
• Conservation and resource management enforcement
• Climate Action Secretariat
• Environmental Assessment Office
• State of environment reporting
• Environmental monitoring
• Flood Management
• Environmental Emergency Response

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

General Responsibilities

• Treasury Board
• Office of the Comptroller General
• Internal Audit and Advisory Services
• Provincial treasury
• Capital Planning
• Economic and financial analysis
• Financial institutions regulation
• Fiscal planning and tax policy
• Tax collection including property, income and consumer
• Forestry, mines, oil and gas revenue
• Collection and loan management
• Homeowner grants
• Gaming policy and enforcement
• Responsible Gambling Strategy
• Crown Agencies Resourcing Office
• BC Public Service Agency

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• BC Securities Commission
• Partnerships BC
• Insurance Council of British Columbia
• Real Estate Council of British Columbia
• Pacific Carbon Trust
• Public Sector Employers' Council
• BC Pension Corporation
• British Columbia Lottery Corporation

MINISTRY OF FORESTS, LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCE OPERATIONS

General Responsibilities

• Forest stewardship policy
• Timber supply, inventory and tree improvement
• Forest health
• Forest investment
• BC Timber Sales
• Tenures and pricing
• Resource roads and bridges policy
• Crown land administration policy
• Crown land allocation and authorizations
• Forests and range authorizations
• Grazing and range stewardship policy
• Land use planning
• Independent power production
• Mines and minerals permitting and inspections except for major mining projects
• Aquaculture licensing and regulation
• Water use planning and authorizations
• Aboriginal consultation and coordination - natural resource operations
• Resorts and alpine ski developments
• Licensing and permitting for angling, hunting and trapping
• GeoBC and information management
• FrontCounter BC
• Provincial hatchery and stocking program
• Watershed restoration
• Fish, wildlife and habitat management
• Drought management
• Dam and dyke safety and regulation
• Flood plain management
• Invasive plants and species
• Public backcountry and commercial recreation
• Recreation sites and trails
• Archaeology and Heritage Conservation policy and permitting
• Resource management compliance
• Crown land restoration
• Forest investment operations
• Wildfire management

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Forest Practices Board
• Timber Export Advisory Committee
• Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board
• Mediation and Arbitration Board
• Assayers Certification Board of Examiners

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

General Responsibilities

• Leadership and support for the health service delivery system
• Health promotion, protection and preventative health
• Aboriginal health promotion
• Public health planning
• Provincial Health Officer
• Performance management of the health authorities
• Health human resource planning
• Health regulation and licensing
• Health information systems and e-health
• Women and seniors
• End-of-life and palliative care
• Community and home support services
• Assisted living and residential care
• Community care licensing
• Mental health and addictions services
• Communicable diseases prevention and addictions services promotion
• Healthy living/chronic disease prevention
• Medical Services Plan
• HealthLinkBC
• BC Patient Transfer Network
• PharmaCare
• Vital Statistics
• BC Ambulance Service
• Meat processing and food premises inspection, regulation and policies

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Health Authorities
• Medical Services Commission
• BC Patient Safety & Quality Council
• Patient Care Quality Review Boards
• Hospital Appeal Board
• Community Care and Assisted Living Appeal Board

MINISTRY OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE (Minister Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism)

General Responsibilities

• International and internal trade policy
• Export market development
• New West Partnership Agreement
• AdvantageBC International Business Centre
• Venture Capital program
• Investment Capital
• Planning and Partnership Development
• Asia Pacific Trade and Investment
• International Marketing Secretariat
• Pacific Coast Collaborative
• Multiculturalism

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd.
• BC Immigrant Investment Fund and BC Renaissance Fund
• Multicultural Advisory Council

MINISTRY OF JOBS, TOURISM AND SKILLS TRAINING (Minister Responsible for Labour)

General Responsibilities

• Tourism strategy
• Aboriginal tourism
• Recreational fish and wildlife promotion
• Small Business Roundtable
• Small Business BC
• Immigration policy
• Labour market policy
• Provincial Nominee Program
• WorkBC
• BladeRunners
• Industry training
• Film, television and digital policy
• Creative BC
• Community adjustment
• Community Development Trust
• Community Business Loans Program
• Regional economic and rural development
• Economic development policy
• Economic and sector analysis
• Economic and community response to mountain pine beetle
• Rural BC Secretariat
• Trade Missions
• Smart regulation
• Regulatory reform
• Labour relations
• Employment standards
• Occupational health and safety
• Workers Compensation Act
• Major Investments Office

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Trades Training Consortium of BC
• Northern Development Initiative Trust
• North Island Coast Development Initiative Trust
• Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust
• Nechako-Kitimaat Development Fund Society
• BC-Alcan Northern Development Fund
• Industry Training Authority
• BC Labour Relations Board
• Workers' Compensation Appeal Tribunal
• Employment Standards Tribunal
• Destination British Columbia

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE

General Responsibilities

• Criminal justice and family law
• Administrative law policy
• Court administration
• Legal aid and public legal education
• Alternate dispute resolution
• Family maintenance
• Film policy and classification
• Legal services to government
• Police and correctional services
• Provincial emergency management
• Emergency social services
• Crime prevention programs
• Criminal record check and protection order registry
• Victim assistance
• Consumer services
• Superintendent of Motor Vehicles
• Office of the Fire Commissioner
• Coroners Service of British Columbia
• Liquor Control and Licensing
• Liquor Distribution Branch

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• BC Utilities Commission
• BC Human Rights Tribunal
• BC Law Institute
• British Columbia Review Board
• Environmental Appeal Board
• Forest Appeals Commission
• Oil and Gas Appeal Tribunal
• Legal Services Society
• Police boards

MINISTRY OF NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT (Minister Responsible for Housing)

General Responsibilities

• Oil and gas policy
• Liquid Natural Gas
• Oil and Gas Pipelines
• Housing and homeless policy
• Transition houses
• Building policy
• Safety standards and inspections
• Landlord-tenant dispute resolution

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Oil and Gas Commission
• BC Housing Management Commission
• Building Code Appeal Board
• Building Policy Advisory Committee
• Safety Standards Appeal Board
• British Columbia Safety Authority
• Provincial Rental Housing Corporation

MINISTRY OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL INNOVATION

General Responsibilities

• Income assistance
• Disability assistance
• Delivery of employment programs
• Provincial Disability Strategy
• Adult community living services
• Mental health and addictions services coordination
• Volunteer and non-profit support

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Community Living BC
• Employment and Assistance Appeal Tribunal

MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY, INNOVATION AND CITIZENS' SERVICES

General Responsibilities

• Research, innovation and technology
• Citizen's service delivery
• Government agents
• Open data and open information
• BC Stats
• BC OnLine
• Enquiry BC
• Online Channel Office
• Business and personal property registries services
• Queen's Printer
• Chief Information Officer
• Information and privacy policy
• Workforce planning
• Employee engagement
• Government Communications and Public Engagement
• Board Resourcing and Development Office
• Shared Services BC
• BC Accommodation and Real Estate Services
• Workplace Technology Services
• Alternative Service Delivery
• Procurement and Supply Services
• Corporate Accounting Services
• Telecommunications infrastructure
• Solutions BC

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• Premier's Technology Council
• BC Innovation Council
• Leading Edge Endowment Fund Board
• Knowledge Network Corporation

MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

General Responsibilities

• Transportation planning and policy
• Highway construction and maintenance
• Commercial vehicle safety and inspections
• Port and airport development
• Infrastructure grants
• Major capital project management

Major Agencies, Boards and Commissions

• BC Rail
• Passenger Transportation Board
• BC Transit
• BC Transportation Financing Authority
• Insurance Corporation of British Columbia
• British Columbia Pavilion Corporation

Contact:

Ben Chin
Office of the Premier
250 588-3113

BACKGROUNDER 2

Deputy Ministers and Associate Deputy Ministers

Premier
Deputy Ministers:
John Dyble, Deputy Minister to the Premier, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service
Neil Sweeney, Deputy Minister, Corporate Policy
Kim Henderson, Deputy Minister, Corporate Initiatives

Finance
Deputy Ministers:
Peter Milburn
Lynda Tarras, Deputy Minister, Public Service Agency

Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour
Deputy Minister: Dave Byng

Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Deputy Minister: Steve Munro

Advanced Education
Deputy Minister: James Gorman

Agriculture
Deputy Minister: Derek Sturko

Children and Family Development
Deputy Minister: Mark Sieben

Community, Sport and Cultural Development
Deputy Minister: Becky Denlinger

Education
Deputy Minister: James Gorman (Acting)

Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing
Deputy Minister: Steven Carr

Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review
Deputy Minister: Dave Nikolejsin

Environment
Deputy Minister: Wes Shoemaker

Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Deputy Minister: Dave Peterson (Acting)

Health
Deputy Minister: Stephen Brown

Justice and Attorney General
Deputy Ministers:
Richard Fyfe, Deputy Attorney General
Lori Wanamaker, Deputy Solicitor General

Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services
Deputy Minister: John Jacobson
Sarf Ahmed, Associate Deputy Minister, Citizens' Services

Social Development and Social Innovation
Deputy Minister: Sheila Taylor

Transportation and Infrastructure
Deputy Minister: Grant Main

International Trade and Minister Responsible for Asia Pacific Strategy and Multiculturalism
Deputy Minister: Sandra Carroll

Government Communications and Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
Deputy Minister: Athana Mentzelopoulos

Associate Deputy Ministers:

Intergovernmental Relations Secretariat
Pierrette Maranda

Environmental Assessment Office
Doug Caul

Major Investment Office
Tim McEwan

Chief Administrative Officer, Ministry of Health
Elaine McKnight

Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Technology, Innovation and Citizens' Services
Bette-Jo Hughes

Finance
Cheryl Wenezenki-Yolland

Contact:

Ben Chin
Office of the Premier
250 588-3113