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Premier Realigns Cabinet to Meet Economic Challenges

January 19, 2009

VICTORIA - Premier Gordon Campbell today announced the appointment of Blair Lekstrom as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and the appointment of Kevin Krueger as the new Minister of Community Development.

The provincial cabinet has also been realigned, creating a new Ministry of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development to be led by Minister Ida Chong.

Previous functions under the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue, such as tax collection, natural resource revenues, and collection and loan management, will be folded into the Ministry of Finance. The Small Business Roundtable and smart regulation will now fall under Small Business, Technology and Economic Development. Property assessments and homeowner grants will move to the Ministry of Community Development. Climate action has been moved from the Office of the Premier to the Ministry of Environment. There are also a number of changes to the senior executive of the BC Public Service.

"We are going through a period of unprecedented economic change, and government is not immune to that change," said Premier Campbell. "Today is another part of our ongoing response to those shifts - both by ensuring we continue to have strong leadership in our economic ministries, and also by reducing the size of cabinet."

Ida Chong was appointed Minister of Technology, Trade and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative on June 23, 2008. She previously served as Minister of Community Services, Minister of Advanced Education and as Minister of State for Women's and Seniors'
Services. She was re-elected as MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head in 2005 after being elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2001.

Kevin Krueger was appointed Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform on June 23, 2008. He previously served as Minister of State for Mining. He was re-elected as MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson in 2005 after being elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2001.

Blair Lekstrom was appointed Minister of Community Development on June 23, 2008. He was first elected in the 2001 provincial general election in the riding of Peace River South, and was re-elected for a second term in the
2005 general election.

"I want to thank Richard Neufeld for his years of exceptional service as part of the provincial cabinet, and for his 18 years of dedicated service representing his constituents as MLA. I know he will continue to be a strong voice for British Columbia as a member of the Senate," said Premier Campbell. "I also want to thank Ministers Chong, Krueger and Lekstrom for accepting their new roles and helping to lead British Columbia forward."
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