Victoria MLAs landed key critic jobs Friday as NDP Leader Adrian Dix shuffled his shadow cabinet following the party’s defeat in the B.C. election.
Rob Fleming (Victoria-Swan Lake) was given the education portfolio, while Carole James (Victoria-Beacon Hill) moved from social development to become the new children’s critic.
James was the director of Child and Family Services for Carrier Sekani Family Services in Prince George before leading the NDP from 2003 to 2011.
Fleming, a father of two young children, one of whom is in the school system, said he was excited by his new role.
“Education is one of the most important services government provides and the learning conditions of our kid are crucial to our success as a province in the future,” he said. “Under the Liberals, I think they’ve got a very spotty record on funding commitments that they make and so there’s some improvements that need to be made.”
Fleming, who plans to keep close tabs on negotiations between teachers and the province, will square off against new Education Minister Peter Fassbender when the legislature returns later this month. “By pushing for a 10-year agreement, they’ve got to show people in the education system that they can walk before they can run,” said Fleming, a former Victoria city councillor.
In other key moves affecting Vancouver Island MLAs, Claire Trevena (North Island) became transportation and B.C. Ferries critic. Maurine Karagianis (Esquimalt-Royal Roads) took over women’s issues, child care and shipbuilding, while former agriculture critic Lana Popham (Saanich South) moves to small business, tourism, arts and culture.
Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan kept his post as energy critic, while Nanaimo MLA Leonard Krog remains as attorney general critic. Horgan is also house leader.
In other significant moves, Judy Darcy (New Westminster) became the NDP’s health critic.
Mike Farnworth (Port Coquitlam) becomes the new finance critic, replacing Bruce Ralston, who takes over international trade, multiculturalism, immigration and the Asia Pacific Strategy.
