New and familiar faces on the bus as Eby introduces B.C. NDP cabinet

By Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press on November 18, 2024.

Premier David Eby looks into the legislative assembly before start of the oath ceremony at the legislature in Victoria, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. Premier David Eby will introduce his new cabinet today after last month's tight election win that left his New Democrats with a slim, one-seat majority. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

VICTORIA – A bus carrying members of Premier David Eby’s new cabinet has arrived at Government House in Victoria, with passengers including both new and familiar faces.

Among newly elected members of the NDP caucus on the bus were former broadcaster Randene Neill and Vancouver Police Department veteran Terry Yung, while cabinet veterans including Mike Farnworth, Adrian Dix and Ravi Kahlon, also walked off the bus.

Eby arrived with his wife Dr. Cailey Lynch and their three children.

The premier has faced the challenge of filling the cabinet from a greatly reduced caucus after last month’s tight election win gave his New Democrats a slim, one-seat majority.

The NDP government holds 47 seats in the 93-seat legislature.

Eby said at last week’s swearing-in ceremony for the caucus that his cabinet and government will be tasked with focusing on kitchen-table issues of concern for people in B.C., including affordability, health care, public safety, housing and the economy.

Former B.C. Liberal cabinet minister Mike Bernier, who ran unsuccessfully as an Independent last month in his Dawson Creek-area riding, says Eby must find ways to bring rural representation into the cabinet even though the majority of his members are from Metro Vancouver or Vancouver Island.

B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad says Eby has been invisible when it comes to rural B.C., and he and his 44-member caucus are looking forward to holding the government to account on numerous issues.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 18, 2024.