Where’s Grace Lore

Shows the calibre of Eby's cabinet. 

Minister of State for Childcare now - a half step up from parliamentary secretary for gender equity. Guess the cheerleading recently got noticed.

Niki Sharma is the new A-G, Lana Popham is out as Agriculture minister (she wasn't looking none too happy about it either judging by her expression, watching the ceremony on BC21); Fleming stays as minister of Transportation, Dix the same in Health, Selina Robinson is out at Finance which is a head scratchier as she has done very well in that role however Baldrey and others mentioned there is a personal issue/schism between her and Eby so she got the boot from that very important post.

Fifteen women now in cabinet the most ever, seven visible minorities and a huge emphasis on a younger cabinet, all of which come as no surprise; also no surprise that a Vancouver-based Premier has pruned the 'over-represented' southern island MLA/Cabinet group in favor of MLA's from the GVRD. 

Was interesting at one point there were some environmental anti-fracking protesters outside chanting loudly, and who could be clearly heard inside while the ceremony was proceeding, a small reminder perhaps that while Eby was crowned unopposed into his own role by acclamation, it won't be that easy going forward as his administration tackles everything from the housing crisis to drug addiction to the economy which is being buffeted by a very bleak forecast ahead.

Minister of State for Childcare now - a half step up from parliamentary secretary for gender equity. Guess the cheerleading recently got noticed.

I wonder if this means that she will actually get back to work and focus on her job. I am sure that she already has cheap child care for her kids so mission accomplished on the portfolio?

Given that Eby has included Lore in cabinet, it is safe to say he wants her in the riding.

She was already in cabinet as a parliamentary secretary. Minister of state is a step above that but I assume that is the trade off for moving her out of her area of passion. 

Edited by spanky123, 07 December 2022 - 01:29 PM.

also no surprise that a Vancouver-based Premier has pruned the 'over-represented' southern island MLA/Cabinet group in favor of MLA's from the GVRD. 

Did you mean Eby increased the Vancouver Island representation? By my count on the Island, Osborne, Malcolmson, Dean, Rankin, Popham, & Fleming all retained cabinet positions with no-one pruned. Lore was a new addition so that would increase the Island presence.

She was already in cabinet.

Parliamentary Secretaries don't count as cabinet. This was a promotion.

Parliamentary Secretaries don't count as cabinet. This was a promotion.

Sure it does.

https://www2.gov.bc....binet-ministers

Sure it does.

 

https://www2.gov.bc....binet-ministers

They are listed separate from full cabinet ministers on that page because according to the provincial constitution they are not part of the Executive Council and do not hold any of the legislature powers that a cabinet minister does. See the legislature's definition: A Private Member of the governing party that is appointed to assist a Cabinet minister with specific areas of their portfolio. Unlike Cabinet ministers and ministers of state, Parliamentary Secretaries are not members of the Executive Council.

Did you mean Eby increased the Vancouver Island representation? By my count on the Island, Osborne, Malcolmson, Dean, Rankin, Popham, & Fleming all retained cabinet positions with no-one pruned. Lore was a new addition so that would increase the Island presence.

That's what happens when combining work with an 'aside' response on the nearby laptop. It went slightly askew although my main point remains; note I very deliberately stated south island, an important distinction since the point was that under Horgan a 'local' Premier there was the hope, and certainly mine, that the CRD would benefit more in terms of government capital and project investment, although I certainly was not thinking in terms of that ludicrous RBCM proposal which thankfully the NDP walked back after being shamed into it.

Much of that potential future investment will presumably now be siphoned off to a real degree with the dominance of mainland representation. Not surpising and an old political trend certainly in BC but I had hoped for "more" while we had a premier from the area in addition to other key ministers and house representation.

Remmeber too that Popham and Rankin were clearly reduced in stature being given lesser roles; Baldrey in particular noticed and commented on that as well. Eby to be fair had to get Rankin out of the A-G role as he was getting crucified in question period by the Liberals. And Popham in spite of her obvious knowledge and passion for agriculture never came off as a strong or confident personality. I remember well the very first time she stepped up to a mike in front of the Leg and handled the media questions so poorly that Horgan, who was standing nearby, literally had to step in and shunt her aside to take the questions.

To my primary point the Sun captured it perfectly:

".....Eby attempted to improve regional representation with more ministers from the Fraser Valley......however, the cabinet, including Eby, is still dominated by MLAs from the Lower Mainland including four from the City of Vancouver, 12 from the rest of Metro Vancouver, two from the Fraser Valley, and five from Vancouver Island."

**Note I see in its haste to re-do the government website the BCG has made the rather unfortunate mistake of putting the bio of Pam Alexis (new Agriculture Minister) under Lana Popham's picture. Oops.....

https://news.gov.bc....-food/biography

Did you mean Eby increased the Vancouver Island representation? By my count on the Island, Osborne, Malcolmson, Dean, Rankin, Popham, & Fleming all retained cabinet positions with no-one pruned. Lore was a new addition so that would increase the Island presence.

Eby's cabinet retains seven Islanders, with new attorney general, finance minister

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 08 December 2022 - 03:39 AM.

The new cabinet, unveiled Wednesday, shows an effort to balance gender, ethnicity, regional representation...

Edited by Nparker, 08 December 2022 - 07:35 AM.

They are listed separate from full cabinet ministers on that page because according to the provincial constitution they are not part of the Executive Council and do not hold any of the legislature powers that a cabinet minister does. See the legislature's definition: A Private Member of the governing party that is appointed to assist a Cabinet minister with specific areas of their portfolio. Unlike Cabinet ministers and ministers of state, Parliamentary Secretaries are not members of the Executive Council.

Only going by what the website says. The tab says cabinet and secretaries are listed. Now the executive council may very well be different.

In any event, as I said I am glad to see her out of the portfolio and into something less challenging for her. Between the threatening t-shirt that VW posted and her ongoing name calling of protestors it was clear that she was a little too close and not objective enough in her past role. 

Skill and competency are not required in a woke world.

How is 15 of 23 balanced?

Looking at the list of people of both sexes and all ethnicities it is pretty clear that Eby's goal was to place inexperienced people who are not likely to challenge him into senior roles. Good for him, bad for the rest of us.

Given that Eby has included Lore in cabinet, it is safe to say he wants her in the riding.

Interesting now that Helps has been given a 6 month OIC appointment. Election called in 6 months with Helps pushing Lore out?

I can't see the NDP running Helps in any other riding unless they think they have something safe on the mainland where people haven't heard of her.

Summer election, unlikely.

Could be in the fall, maybe.

The only thing worse than Grace Lore as Victoria's MLA would be Lisa Helps. She's a shoe-in.

https://twitter.com/...560752029929500

https://twitter.com/...571692595171634

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 28 August 2023 - 03:38 AM.

Time to axe Grace Lorie.