New Surrey MLAs could show up in next cabinet

Jinny Sims (top), newly-elected MLA for Surrey-Panorama, could be in the provincial cabinet should the NDP take power. If the BC Liberals remain in power, new Surrey-White Rock MLA Tracy Redies (bottom) could be in cabinet. We won't know which party will take power until sometime next week at the earliest, after absentee ballots are counted.

As the uncertainty over which political party or combination of parties will form the next provincial government continues, it’s worth contemplating how the South Fraser and Fraser Valley regions will be represented in the new government.

Of course, there need to be local MLAs in the cabinet. There also needs to be a strong commitment by cabinet and caucus members to work towards resolving important issues affecting communities in the eastern portion of Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. This is the fastest-growing area of B.C. and has many pressing issues which require the attention of the provincial government. These include transportation, schools, hospitals, other health services, housing and economic development, among others.

If the BC Liberals remain in power, two ministers from Surrey from the last cabinet won’t be there. Peter Fassbender, minister of communities who was responsible for TransLink, lost his Surrey-Fleetwood seat. Amrik Virk, minister of technology and innovation, lost his Surrey-Guildford seat.

They need to be replaced, but most importantly, Surrey must have strong representation in the cabinet. Not only is it the second-largest city in B.C., it is a crucial electoral battleground which the BC Liberals must do better in if they wish to win another term when this particular parliament dissolves. That may be much sooner than four years from now.

Stephanie Cadieux, who won the new Surrey South seat, is the longtime minister of children and family development. It is a thankless post, with enormous challenges. She is likely due for a change and would be suited to a position which is more directly related to some of Surrey’s biggest challenges – education, health or a transportation-related post.

New Surrey-White Rock MLA Tracy Redies, former CEO of Coast Capital Savings, should also be in line for an important post. She has plenty of private sector experience, and some sort of economic portfolio would fit in with her talents.

Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Marvin Hunt, elected for a second term, also merits some additional responsibilities. He is a former chair of Metro Vancouver and served on both Surrey council and school board. New Delta South MLA Ian Paton, who has served on Delta council and has plenty of agricultural-related experience, could also be in line for some sort of post.

The current education minister, Mike Bernier, was re-elected in Peace River South.  In recent months he has come around to understanding that Surrey has unique classroom space challenges, magnified by the settlement with the B.C. Teachers Federation.  It would be best for Surrey if he stays in his post.

The most critical post relating to Surrey may be the one Fassbender held. There aren’t a huge number of BC Liberal MLAs from Metro Vancouver, but one who can mend fences with mayors and work towards getting transportation improvements moving along is crucial for that position.

The Fraser Valley has but one BC Liberal cabinet minister - Mike de Jong of Abbotsford West, who is the finance minister. However, the two Langley MLAs who are on the cusp of both the valley and Metro are also in cabinet.

The two Maple Ridge seats have gone over to the NDP, so there won't be any MLAs from that area in a BC Liberal cabinet (unless Marc Dalton of Maple Ridge-Mission manages to reverse his election night loss, which saw him fall to Bob D'Eith of the NDP by 120 votes).

None of the other five Fraser Valley BC Liberal MLAs from other Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Hope are in cabinet.

If the NDP form government, new premier John Horgan will have more local talent available to him for cabinet. Longtime Surrey-Whalley MLA Bruce Ralston, a former city councillor, would fit in any number of positions from attorney-general to minister of finance. He has most recently been critic for trade, natural gas development, multiculturalism, oil and gas and the softwood lumber dispute.

Harry Bains, Surrey-Newton MLA since 2005, has been critic for forests, lands and natural resources and human rights. In the past, he has been transportation critic and he would be an excellent minister to take over from Fassbender in dealing directly with Lower Mainland transportation issues.

Jagrup Brar, who defeated Fassbender, has plenty of past legislative experience and is deserving of a cabinet post. New Surrey-Panorama MLA Jinny Sims is a former BCTF president and could play an important role. Ravi Kahlon, who won the Delta North seat (in no small part due to Horgan’s numerous appearances there during the campaign) will also get consideration. He is an Olympic athlete, has worked with the NDP caucus for six years and has a good personal relationship with Horgan.

If the NDP holds the two Maple Ridge seats, D'Eith and Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA Lisa Beare will also be available to Horgan when he shapes his cabinet.

The NDP, if it forms government, will have to move quickly to deal with all the issues facing Surrey, White Rock, Delta, Langley, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.

There are no shortage of hot button issues.