West Kelowna-Peachland MLA Macklin McCall has been given Elenore Sturko’s old job in the Conservative Party of British Columbia.
McCall, a former RCMP officer, will now be the opposition’s critic for public safety and the solicitor general.
He was previously the critic for emergency management.
NowMedia has requested an interview with McCall to discuss his new role.
McCall’s Okanagan colleague, Gavin Dew, has been kept on as innovation and small business critic, but has lost his grander “Jedi” title of jobs, economic development and innovation.
Instead, Harman Bhangu, the former transport critic, has been given half of Dew’s previous job, and becomes the critic for jobs and economic development.
In a statement sent to NowMedia, Dew said he will focus on "pushing" the NDP "to actually listen to small business and make serious changes."
He added: "Small business confidence is the lowest in Canada, youth unemployment is a crisis, and our business districts are absorbing the consequences of urban disorder ... A conservative government will restore hope for small business, restore the spirit of enterprise, and create conditions where people want to take the leap of faith to start a business in BC."
The ousted Sturko spoke to NowMedia less than two weeks ago in one of her final media appearances as public safety critic.
She was deprived of that role, and of her membership in the BC Conservatives, by her former boss, John Rustad, who accused her of plotting against him. She is now an independent.
In a statement this morning, Rustad said his new team of critics is “built for the fight ahead.”
“British Columbians are facing a government that is obsessed with ideology, red tape, and reckless spending — while our communities struggle with crime, collapsing health care, housing chaos, and the total collapse of business confidence.
“Our critics are experienced, passionate, and focused on delivering common-sense solutions and restoring a government that delivers on what British Columbians desperately need.”
Rustad highlighted what he called “ideological land policies that undermine property rights” and “skyrocketing deficits.”
Below is a full list of critic portfolios:
John Rustad – Leader of the Official Opposition and Critic for Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Ian Paton – Critic for Agriculture & Food
Korky Neufeld – Critic for Artificial Intelligence
Steve Kooner – Critic for Attorney General
Rosalyn Bird – Critic for Children & Family Development
Heather Maahs – Critic for Childcare & Early Childhood Development
Amelia Boultbee – Critic for Citizen’s Services
Lynne Block – Critic for Education, Arts, Culture, and Film
Sheldon Clare – Critic for Environment, Parks, Emergency Management & Climate Readiness
Larry Neufeld – Critic for Oil, Gas & LNG
David Williams – Critic for BC Hydro & Electricity Self-Sufficiency
Peter Milobar – Critic for Finance
Ward Stamer – Critic for Forests
Anna Kindy – Critic for Health
Claire Rattee – Critic for Mental Health & Addictions
Brennan Day – Critic for Seniors & Rural Health
Linda Hepner – Critic for Housing
Tony Luck – Critic for Municipal Affairs
Misty van Popta – Critic for Infrastructure
Sharon Hartwell – Critic for Rural Infrastructure & Rural Development
Harman Bhangu – Critic for Jobs and Economic Development
Gavin Dew – Critic for Small Business & Innovation
Mandeep Dhaliwal – Critic for Parental Rights & Sports
Kiel Giddens – Critic for Labour
Pete Davis – Critic for Mining & Critical Minerals
Bryan Tepper – Critic for Post-Secondary Education
Lawrence Mok – Critic for Skills Training & International Credentials
Macklin McCall – Critic for Solicitor General & Public Safety
Kristina Loewen – Critic for Social Development & Poverty Reduction
Scott McInnis – Critic for Tourism, Resort Communities, Columbia Basin Trust, and Deputy Indigenous Relations Critic
Teresa Wat – Critic for Trade, Multiculturalism & Anti-Racism
Trevor Halford – Critic for Transportation
Donegal Wilson – Critic for Water, Land & Resource Stewardship (Fisheries)
Hon Chan – Critic for ICBC, Translink, Transit & Climate Solutions
A’a:lilya Warbus – House Leader
Jody Toor – Caucus Chair
Bruce Banman – Caucus Whip
Reann Gasper – Deputy Caucus Whip
Lorne Doerkson – Deputy Speaker
