BC Liberal MLA Joan Isaacs has been named the opposition critic for children and family development.
Isaacs, who represents the riding of Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, was named to the post in a shuffle of roles the BC Liberals said in a press release was done to hold “John Horgan and his government to account in key areas as the NDP government struggles to respond to the challenges of COVID-19.”
Isaacs has held previous roles as the BC Liberal critic for seniors care and, most recently, for social development and poverty reduction.
Isaacs ’s new title came the same day children across the province headed back to school and just over a week after longtime Tri-City politician Fin Donnelly announced he would be moving out of a brief retirement to challenge Issacs for her seat in the next provincial election.
In a Tri-City News profile in 2019, Donnelly stated he was changing his focus from working as a politician to working directly with groups trying to protect the Fraser River.
It appears he has since changed his mind, as the press release notes he wants to run for office with “John Horgan and his NDP team” if his nomination bid is successful. Among the issues he cites are affordable housing, childcare access and building schools for the growing community.
The date of the nomination meeting hasn't been announced or if there are others in the running.
Burke Mountain is a newly developing area in Coquitlam and the demand for new schools has been strong.
— with files from Diane Strandberg
