Lights, Camera's, Action - the next moves are now underway for BC Premier Christy Clark

YES ... today is the day, and we will see what the face of the next BC Liberal cabinet looks like.  Most people fully expect that Kamloops North Thompson MLA Terry lake will return to the role of Environment Minister. 

We'll find out soon, and we will get a good idea of the direction she plans to take with the faces that return to cabinet -- and those who are left out.

One thing is almost a sure bet, and I was reminded of it by Kamloops Armchair Mayor, Mel Rothenburger:

Lights, camera's, action - the next moves are
now underway for BC Premier Christy Clark

Ralph Sultan, who won re-election in West Vancouver-Capilano by the biggest margin of any Liberal, was quoted by CBC shortly after election night that he would not voluntarily give up his seat for Clark. It will be interesting to see if Sultan’s name comes up on the list of cabinet ministers that will be announced Friday.

A news story on the CBC also states that:

Veteran politicians Shirley Bond, Rich Coleman and Mike de Jong can expect to remain in cabinet, while newcomers like former RCMP Insp. Amrik Virk and Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender are strong contenders.

Other potential cabinet ministers among the newly elected Liberals are paralympic champion Michelle Stilwell, former deputy minister Andrew Wilkinson and Richmond businesswoman Teresa Wat.

Stay tuned; we'll hear who is in, and who is out, when the new cabinet is announced early this afternoon.

One thing we know for sure, unless Christy Clark wins that by-election (to be held in Westside Kelowna), she won't be joining them in the legislature in July.  There is of course every expectation she will, but there's no guarantee.

One thing that WILL be on the minds, of at least a few voters in Kelowna, will be the fact that the Liberals already have a majority government. 

If the party actually won the May 14th provincial election, in spite of Christy Clark, then voters in Kelowna will certainly have no fear of electing any candidate, on the ballot, who they feel will best represent them.

Interesting times indeed.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.


FOLLOW-UP:
The cabinet announcement from Premier Christy Clark will be live-streamed on the BC government Newsroom website beginning at 2pm today at http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/06/webcast-naming-of-british-columbias-new-executive-council.html


FOLLOW-UP TO THE FOLLOW-UP ... here is the new cabinet, as announced today by BC Prenmier Christy Clark.  It includes BOTH Kamloops MLA's with Terry Lake moving into Health ... and Todd Stone into Transportation:

• Deputy Premier / Minister for Natural Gas / Housing ... Rich Coleman
• Finance Minister ... Mike de Jong
• Forests, Lands & Natural Resources Minister ... Steve Thomson
• Health Minister ... Terry Lake
• Aboriginal Relations & Reconciliation Minister ... John Rustad
• Education Minister ... Peter Fassbender
• Advanced Education Minister ... Amrik Virk
• Transportation and Infrastructure Minister ... Todd Stone
• Social Development Minister ... Don McRea
• Technology & Citizen Services Minister ... Andrew Wilkinson
• Children & Families Minister ... Stephanie Cadieux
• Energy & Mines Minister / Minister Responsible for Core Review ... Bill Bennett
• Community Sport & Cultural Development Minister ... Coralee Oakes
• International Trade & Asia Pacific Strategy / Multiculturalism Minister ... Theresa Wats
• Justice Minister & Attorney General ... Suzanne Anton
• Jobs, Tourism, & Skills Training Minister / Minister Responsible for Labour ... Shirley Bond
• Environment Minister ... Mary Polak
• Agriculture Minister ... Pat Pimm
• Small Business & Tourism Minister ... Naomi Yamamoto