Synergy, the electronic newsletter
information for people who value arts and culture

Campbell's cabinet shuffle
Where's culture?

Premier Gordon Campbell's cabinet shuffle earlier in the week has left the BC government's cultural policy caught between two homes. In addition to all the changes at the cabinet table, detailed below, the Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise was renamed the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development. In a backgrounder to the cabinet shuffle media release, the first responsibility listed for this ministry is "BC Olympic Secretariat, Sport and Culture."

However, the same document lists "artistic and cultural development" responsibilities under the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services. This ministry also retains responsibility for the BC Arts Council, according to the backgrounder. It is silent on the location of the Olympic Arts Fund.

According to sources at the Ministry of CAWS, it appears the intention is to move cultural development responsibilities over to Small Business and Economic Development. Less clear is whether heritage conservation and library services will move as well.

In all, seventeen ministers either lost their portfolios or were reassigned, six rookie cabinet ministers were appointed, and in addition to the new portfolio of Small Business and Economic Development, several other ministries were re-structured.

John Les, from Chilliwack, will helm the new Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development. Les has been Government Caucus Chair since June, 2002 and chaired the Legislative Special Committee on the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform. Prior to entering provincial politics, he served as Mayor of Chilliwack, and held positions on the Fraser Valley Regional District, the Municipal Finance Authority of BC, the Union of BC Municipalities and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.

Also in the cultural sector, a junior ministry was developed: Immigration and Multicultural Services will be lead by Gulzar Cheema, whose previous portfolio was as Minister of State for Mental Health. He retains the title of Minister of State. Cheema was a member of Manitoba's Legislative Assembly, and prior toentering politics he was a family doctor in Surrey.

George Abbott was moved from the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services to the Ministry of Sustainable Resource Management. In his place will be Murray Coell, who moves from Human Resources. Coell previously served as the
Official Opposition critic for environment, children and families, and social services. His background is in social work, and he represents Saanich.

Rich Coleman retained his post at the top of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, the ministry responsible for gaming, including the Direct Access Program.

This shuffle was the first major makeover of the government since Campbell's Liberals came to power in 2001.

Comments? Send a message to:
amarkin@allianceforarts.com

Last Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2004