Rookie Shuswap representative Greg Kyllo will start his provincial political career getting his feet wet as an MLA.
In an announcement Friday, Kyllo, who had been touted by some as a candidate for a cabinet post, was not among those named to a direct portfolio by Christy Clark.
Greg Kyllo was named Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan reporting to Shirley Bond, the Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training.
Clark says Kyllo will, “use his experience as a business owner to work with government to update and continue implementing the BC Jobs Plan.”
Clark arranged a public ceremony on the Vancouver waterfront to unveil her new cabinet lineup.
The event was a departure from the tradition of making the announcement at Government House in Victoria. The official swearing-in ceremony will go ahead there Monday, followed by the oaths of office for MLAs next week.
Former Shuswap MLA George Abbott, who recently retired from politics, held a number of cabinet posts including stints as the Minister of Health and Ministry of Education. Abbott began his provincial career on the opposition side of government as a critic for municipal affairs and forests.
She named a total of 19 people to her cabinet including both Kamloops MLAs. Kamloops-North MLA Terry Lake, formerly minister of environment, is now minister of health. Todd Stone, the rookie MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson, has been named minister of transportation and deputy house leader.
The cabinet also included posts for veteran minister Rich Coleman, who becomes Deputy Premier and Mike de Jong, who was named Minister of Finance. Bond was named Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training Minister and Minister Responsible for Labour and Mary Polak was given the post of Environment Minister.
