As New Session of BC Legislature arrives and Majority NDP Government take to its duties, some marching orders for Northwest MLA's

As the NDP government takes to the stage for its four year mandate this week, Premier John Horgan has provided each of his new cabinet ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries with their mandate letters.

The document which lists their duties and his expectations from them as they move forward with the new government's plans for the years ahead.

For North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, it's a return to her duties as Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Mr. Horgan had three pages of instructions for Ms. Rice, making note of some key elements for her duties.

Your Minister is ultimately responsible and accountable for their ministry and their mandate; thus, all key decisions will be made by them. Your role is to understand your Minister’s policy goals, develop a deep understanding of the issues, participate in consultations with key stakeholders, Indigenous peoples and the broader public, in order to give your best advice to the public service as it develops options for a decision by the Minister. 

You will collaborate with your Minister, Ministry and the Premier’s Office to develop a workplan to guide your efforts, including detail on how the professional public service will support your work through briefings, supporting consultations, and keeping you apprised of policy development. 

 

All members are expected to review, understand and act according to the Members’ Conflict of Interest Act and conduct themselves with the highest level of integrity. As a Parliamentary Secretary, your conduct will reflect not only on you, but on your Minister and our government. 

You are accountable for providing strong, professional and ethical leadership. I expect you to establish a positive, respectful and collaborative working relationship with your Minister, their staff and the public servants who provide the professional, non-partisan advice fundamental to delivering on our government’s priorities.

The full text of his letter to MLA Rice can be explored below:

Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen also received his to do list from the Premier as part of his appointment of Minister of state for Land and Resources.

We explore some of the themes from that document here.

As the Legislature returns for it's early Winter session, you can keep up to date on some of the developments from our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.