A cabinet shuffle on Thursday (July 17) provided new roles for two Greater Victoria MLAs.
Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Nina Krieger has taken the reins of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, which develops public safety policy and legislation and administers regulations for the liquor, cannabis and gambling sectors.
Krieger said she is “humbled and excited” about this news.
“Public safety is one of the central issues of our time, and British Columbians are looking to us to protect people and create safe, healthy communities,” she said.
For now, Krieger explained her priority is to be briefed by her team on key issues.
“These include working with law enforcement to ensure that they have the tools and resources that they need to keep people safe, working with businesses and the business community in downtowns across the province to combat petty crime and vandalism, to ensure that we are combating hate, to really ensure that all people across B.C., all groups are protected,” she said.
Krieger concluded that she looks forward to working closely with other ministers to coordinate mental health and addictions services with public safety efforts, aiming to “build a safer and healthy and really compassionate province for everyone that calls this place home.”
Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Diana Gibson was also shifted into a new role. She will now lead the Ministry of Citizens' Services, after heading the Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation since November.
“I'm honoured to take the role as minister of citizens’ services and continue working with Premier Eby and my cabinet colleagues to tackle the issues facing the people of British Columbia,” she said.
The Ministry of Citizens Services provides over 300 government services, both online and in-person. These include managing government properties, connecting people with child-care benefits, delivering internet and cell connectivity and ensuring access to freedom of information requests.
“Think of it as the behind-the-scenes team that makes everything run smoothly,” said Gibson. “If you have used Service BC to get your driver's licence, health card or register a business, you've worked with us.”
In her new role, Gibson’s priorities include “continuing to build the infrastructure needed to ensure that all communities across B.C. have access to quality and reliable internet and cell service.”
Supporting the province’s response to U.S. tariffs and the changes AI could bring are Gibson’s other priorities.
Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon, who was previously the minister of housing and municipal affairs, is now the minister of jobs and economic growth.
“I am glad to see Minister Kahlon return to continue that work in what is now a central ministry,” said Gibson.
This is Premier David Eby’s third cabinet. It includes MLAs from Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, the North and the Interior.
Eby framed this shuffle as a “strategic shift ... to centre jobs, the economy and the needs of British Columbians in their communities.”
“We need to be responsive to the changing needs of our province by growing our economy, seizing new opportunities, and making our essential services more resilient," Eby added in a news release.
