Nineteen cabinet ministers got 19 personal letters from Premier Christy Clark after their swearing-in.
They outline exactly what she wants done and how she wants them to do it. There’s an unmistakable air of authority in the mandate letters.
“I will evaluate any circumstances that may call into question the conduct of a minister against the expectations and obligations set out in applicable statutes and this letter,” she writes.
The general thrust of the messages: Execute the campaign message of creating jobs and keep the lid on spending.
She reminds them that tough choices must be made to balance the budget. “By charting a course for a debt-free B.C., our children can be free to make their own choices when it’s their turn to lead.”
But each letter is tailored to the recipient. So, as a whole, they fill in some of the details about what the government has in mind over the near term.
Some examples:
• Natural Gas Development Minister Rich Coleman (responsible for housing) also has the job of keeping an eye on heavy-oil pipeline proposals. Specifically, he is to ensure clarity on B.C.’s expectations regarding the five conditions that must be met before the government would consider supporting one or more of them.
He is also tasked with bringing in a new home-inspector accreditation program, which will lead to licensing that field for the first time.
• Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister John Rustad is specifically directed to bring local First Nations onside with David Black’s proposed Kitimat oil refinery. Similarly, he is to “ensure First Nations critical to securing LNG are participating and benefiting from this opportunity.”
• Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk has been instructed to not only keep his ministry’s budget balanced, but to make sure all postsecondary institutions use cost-containment strategies similar to the ones in the health sector. That means shared service deals, co-ordinated purchasing and energy-efficiency upgrades.
“Continue to minimize overheads … consolidate functions across different post-secondary institutions.”
• Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux is under orders to stay on good terms with Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, representative for children and youth, by having regular quarterly meetings with her to “create a more open and transparent relationship.”
She also has to complete the problem-plagued integrated case-management computer program changeover.
• Education Minister Peter Fassbender has to achieve 10 years of stability by getting a long-term deal with the teachers. He is also instructed to devise reform options for the government’s bargaining structure, bring in performance assessments and curriculum improvements for teachers and look at online textbooks.
• Energy Minister Bill Bennett (responsible for the core review) is urged to ride herd on B.C. Hydro’s spending and continue supporting Site C, the proposed new dam on the Peace River.
On the core review, he’s been given a full 18 months to conclude it. The process isn’t due for completion until the end of 2014.
• Environment Minister Mary Polak is under orders to encourage other jurisdictions to bring in carbon taxes so B.C. industry is not placed at a competitive disadvantage. It’s been five years so far with no other takers.
She is also to provide options for reforming the Pacific Carbon Trust, the agency that trades carbon credits.
As well, she will produce an annual water report on natural-gas fracking “to ensure awareness of the water conservation strategies” undertaken by drillers.
• Justice Minister Suzanne Anton has a full suite of jobs involving executing the reforms from Geoffrey Cowper’s review. She also is charged with continuing the B.C. Liberals’ preoccupation with the liquor system. She is to present a full reform of liquor regulations and report on the idea of converting the Liquor Distribution Branch — subject of a failed privatization push last year — into a Crown corporation.
• Transportation Minister Todd Stone has orders to initiate a transportation strategy for Vancouver Island, a vague idea that involves just making a wish list. He has also been assigned to bring in the service cuts at B.C. Ferries. There’s also one lost cause on his list — continue encouraging Ottawa to restore passenger rail service on the Island.
