The Tri-Cities may have lost a provincial cabinet minister but gained a voice in discussions surrounding one of its perennial hot topics: public transportation.
Iain Black, Port Moody-Westwood MLA, was dropped from his post as minister of labour, citizens' services and open government in a revamped smaller cabinet announced by Premier Christy Clark after she was sworn in Monday.
The change means Black is no longer front and centre in the debate over the $8 minimum wage as his ministry had planned a public consultation on the issue and a review of B.C.'s employment standards.
But his new appointment as parliamentary secretary for public transportation to the minister of transportation and infrastructure will give him some insight into issues surrounding transit and the Evergreen Line.
Black has been an optimistic proponent of the Evergreen Line and said last year that extra stations along the Burnaby-to-Coquitlam route could be built if justified by extra density.
First elected as an MLA for the Port Moody-Westwood riding in 2005 to replace Clark, Black was previously the minister of small business, technology and economic development. He will still have input in these areas through his post on the cabinet committee on jobs and economic growth, which Clark said will be a key focus of her government.
Black, who was an organizer for Liberal leadership contender Kevin Falcon, did not return calls before The Tri-City News' press time.
Meanwhile, BC Liberal Doug Horne, MLA for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, has been appointed to the legislative review committee, which will be chaired by Attorney General Barry Penner.
Former Tri-City MLA Harry Bloy (now in the riding of Burnaby-Lougheed), the only MLA to support Clark's leadership bid, was named minister of social development.
