Premier Christy Clark is shuffling staff in her office yet again, this time hiring former CBC TV journalist Ben Chin as her director of communications.
Chin was a weekend anchor on The National newscast before leaving the CBC in 2003. He became an adviser to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, unsuccessfully ran for provincial office as an Ontario Liberal and most recently worked in corporate communications.
Chin replaces Sara MacIntyre, a former staffer of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who left in October after frequent clashes with the media and who was parachuted into a supposedly non-partisan senior communications position within the B.C. government.
A spokesman for the premiers office said the changes fill empty staff positions and dont boost the office budget.
The changes were announced by Dan Doyle, who became the premiers third chief of staff in September, after Ken Boessenkool resigned following an inappropriate incident with a fellow staffer at a Victoria bar.
Former Comox Valley school trustee Ken Dawson was appointed the premiers director of policy. Dawson had previously served as ministerial assistant to the minister of education.
Doyle promoted Jen Chalmers, a former communications co-ordinator and executive assistant, to manager of operations in the premiers office.
Doyle also hired Maclean Kay from the B.C. Liberal caucus communications department to fill a similar role in the premiers office. Kay is a former journalist.
Shane Mills, Clarks long-time director of issues management, retains the same position, as does press secretary Mike Morton.
