Premier Christy Clark is showing a double standard by appointing new staff to her office during a time of spending cutbacks and a government-wide hiring freeze, says the Opposition NDP.
Clark's office announced Monday that former CBC-TV journalist Ben Chin will serve as her new director of communications.
Chin, who also worked for CityTV and CTV, left the CBC in 2003 to become an adviser to Ontario Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty. He also unsuccessfully ran for provincial office in Ontario as a Liberal. Most recently, he worked as a vice-president and adviser to Air Miles for Social Change.
Chin's hiring was one of a number of staff changes announced by Clark's chief of staff Dan Doyle. But it doesn't mean a budget boost for Clark's office, because the new hires replace people who have left, said a spokesman.
The Opposition NDP accused Clark of a double standard. "The decisions to do this are entirely inconsistent with every message [Finance Minister] Mike de Jong and Christy Clark are trying to deliver about belt-tightening and hiring freezes," said NDP caucus chairman Shane Simpson.
"We keep adding more communications people and adding them to the premier's office. It's inconsistent and hypocritical to do that."
The Liberal government introduced an austerity program of wage freezes and a hiring ban two months ago.
Deep spending cuts were also reinforced last week when the Finance Ministry said this year's deficit had ballooned to $1.47 billion because of slumping revenue.
Simpson described continued staff changes in Clark's office as a "revolving door." The premier is on her third chief of staff and communications director in less than two years.
Chin replaced Sara MacIntyre, who left in October after frequent clashes with the media. MacIntyre, who had been recruited from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office, was parachuted into a supposedly non-partisan senior communications position within the B.C. government.
Clark's continuously shifting communications department - she's also on her second press secretary - has some wondering if she's blaming her media managers for low polling numbers and dismal personal popularity.
"Communications is not her problem," said veteran political scientist Norman Ruff. "She, personally, was known as a communicator. Her problem has been her policy shambles."
Other changes announced Monday include the appointment of former Comox Valley school trustee Ken Dawson as the premier's director of policy.
Jen Chalmers, a former communications co-ordinator and executive assistant, was also promoted to manager of operations in the premier's office.
Maclean Kay, a senior communications officer in the B.C. Liberal caucus, moved to a communications role within the premier's office.
Shane Mills, Clark's long-time director of issues management, and Mike Morton, her press secretary, will retain their jobs.
