Christine Boyle appointed as the new B.C. minister of housing | Daily Hive

Christine Boyle appointed as the new B.C. minister of housing and municipal affairs

Christine Boyle. (Christine Boyle)

Over eight months after his current cabinet was first sworn in, B.C. Premier David Eby has made significant changes with a major shuffle.

At the top of the list of changes is pivoting Christine Boyle — the MLA for Vancouver-Little Mountain — into the role of the minister of housing and municipal affairs.

Boyle now replaces Delta North MLA Ravi Kahlon, who is now the minister of jobs and economic growth — a position he previously held from November 2020 to December 2022, under John Horgan’s previous administration.

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Both new positions for Boyle and Kahlon remain absolutely crucial, of course, given B.C.’s housing affordability and supply woes, and the homelessness, mental health, and addictions crisis.

Some of the provincial government’s most consequential and transformative policies relating to housing were driven by Kahlon over the last 2.5 years. Kahlon is now in charge of a portfolio charged with the task of expanding B.C.’s economic and jobs outlook amidst poor domestic fundamentals, a poor investment climate, and global uncertainties and trade tensions. He replaces Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Diana Gibson, who is now the minister of citizens’ services.

Boyle’s portfolio spans not only housing-related matters but also municipal affairs, including being the point person for Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s request to amend provincial legislation to abolish the Vancouver Park Board’s elected commissioners. Prior to entering provincial politics, she was a Vancouver city councillor under the OneCity Vancouver party. She expressed opposition to Sim’s abolition strategy at the time.

Ravi Kahlon. (Government of BC)

Vancouver-West End MLA Spencer Chandra-Herbert will now fill Boyle’s previous role of minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation. Burnaby-Deer Lake MLA Anne Kang is taking on Chandra-Herbert’s previous role of minister of tourism, arts, culture, and sport, while Surrey-Newton MLA Jessie Sunner has filled Kang’s previous role of minister of post secondary education and future skills.

There is also the newly created role of minister of state for AI and new technologies, filled by Port Moody-Burquitlam MLA Rick Glumac, who was previously the minister of state for trade.

Another major change is Victoria-Swan Lake MLA Nina Krieger’s appointment to the pivotal role of minister of public safety and solicitor general, replacing Surrey-Guildford MLA Garry Begg.

Instead, Begg is now the parliamentary secretary for Surrey infrastructure, a position that appears to recognize Surrey’s woes with handling its rapidly growing population. As well, Vancouver-Fraserview MLA George Chow, previously the minister of citizens’ services, is the new parliamentary secretary for Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Chinatown. However, for both Begg and Chow, this amounts to a demotion from their previous full ministerial roles.

“We need to be responsive to the changing needs of our province by growing our economy, seizing new opportunities, and making our essential services more resilient,” said Eby in a statement, commenting on the rationale for the makeup of his third cabinet since first becoming the premier in late 2022.

“We have the skills and determination both at the cabinet table and in caucus to stand up for British Columbians. I want to thank two of our veterans, Garry Begg and George Chow, for their hard work and exceptional service to British Columbians. I know they will bring the same enthusiasm to their new roles.”

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