Commentary by Doug McKay, Local 258 IBEW Business Manager/Financial Secretary

POSTED DECEMBER 4, 2020

The 2020 provincial election resulted in British Columbians electing 57 BC NDP MLAs to create a majority BC NDP government and returning John Horgan, MLA Juan de Fuca, as Premier.

A new cabinet was sworn in on November 26 and familiar faces have been reassigned to the ministries we follow that have an effect on the work our members perform.

The Honourable Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton, returns as our Minister of Labour and the Honourable Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley, resumes his post as Minister of Energy. 

It’s also good to see some activists from our labour world elected, including the Honourable Jennifer Whiteside, MLA for New Westminster, and Andrew Mercier, MLA for Langley. Whiteside, who has served most recently as the Secretary-Business Manager of the Hospital Employees Union has been appointed as Minister of Education, and Mercier, a labour lawyer, who most recently held the position of Executive Director of the BC Building Trades, has been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary – Skills Training. We are looking forward to their contributions as they bring their skills and experience to the table.

Overall, the gender-balanced cabinet is a good reflection of BC and congratulations are in order. You can view all the cabinet appointments here, and all elected MLA contact information here.

The legislature will resume sitting on December 7, 2020, with the Throne Speech.