NDP cabinet contenders full of experience with some new faces

One of the first decisions for any leader after winning a federal or provincial election is putting together a cabinet.

If B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark is re-elected on May 9, her cabinet will be filled with many familiar faces.

Clark government ministers Mike de Jong, Rich Coleman, Mary Polak, Shirley Bond, Todd Stone, Stephanie Cadieuxand othersare running in relatively safe seats and would likely returnto cabinet.

Bill Bennett and Terry Lake were the only members of Clark's cabinet that did not run again this election.

But for NDP Leader John Horgan, the cabinet table would be filled mostly by people with no ministerial experience. Even so, the B.C. NDP leader has some possible options of potentialministers who have many other professional credentials.

The Stalwarts

Carole James: The former party leader has been an MLA since 2005 and served as party leader for the2005 and 2009 provincial election campaigns.

Most recently, James has been the B.C. NDP'sfinance critic and has the right amount of experience and understanding of how things in Victoria work to assume the role as finance minister in a possible NDP government. She is expected to win her riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill again.

Adrian Dix: The 2013 provincial election is still in the minds of many B.C. New Democrats. If the NDP is able to win this election, it will do a lot to scrub those memories and potentially provide some redemption for Dix, who led the party during the campaign.

The three-term Vancouver-KingswayMLA has been the NDP's critic on BC Hydro and ICBC, forcing the government to review basic vehicle insurance rates after exposing plans the government had to increase rates by as much as 43 per cent.

Mike Farnworth: Farnworthand Harry Laliarethe only two NDP candidates who have served in a B.C.cabinet. Farnworth served in four portfolios,includinghealth and municipal affairs.

Farnworthmost recently wasthe party's justice critic and pushed for B.C. to ban pill presses in response to the ongoing opioidepidemic.

Judy Darcy: The long time labour leader has only served one term in Victoria, but has been around politics a long time. Darcywas the Canadian president of the Union of Employees and business manager of the Hospital Employees' Union.

Most recently she has served as the New Westminster MLA and the NDP'shealth critic. She hasbeen a vocal critic of the government's failed commitment to provide a family doctor for all British Columbiansand long wait times for medical procedures.

Others: Harry Bains, Bruce Ralston, Shane Simpson

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The New Wave

Melanie Mark: The first First Nations woman to be elected to the B.C. Legislature, Mark won the Vancouver-Mount Pleasant seat in a by-election last February. A victim of sexual abuse as a child, Mark has been an advocate for aboriginal children whoare in provincial care or in abusing homes.

Before serving as the NDP'scritic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Mark worked for the province's Representative for Children and Youth.

David Eby: Eby entered politics four years ago with a splash, beating B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark inVancouver-Point Grey. Since then, the 39-year-old has seen his political profile grow.

The outspoken critic for housing has raised various issues around the affordabilitycrisis in B.C. and pushed for a foreign home buyers tax well before the government implemented it. Eby also served as the head of B.C. Civil Liberties Association before entering politics.

Michelle Mungall: When building a cabinet, Horgan will need to consider both gender equity and regional representation. Mungallhelps with both, havingserved as the MLA for Nelson-Crestonsince 2009 and is one of the 44 women running for the B.C. NDP in this election.

Mungallpushed the province to remove clawbacks for families who received both disability and parental leave support. She has also been a staunch critic of the province's removal of the free bus pass for those on disability allowance.

Others: Selina Robinson, Rob Fleming, Jennifer Rice, Lana Popham, Spencer Chandra-Herbert, Jodie Wickens, George Heyman

Fresh faces

The B.C. NDP have a wide range of candidates running who were not part of the legislature before it was dissolved.

If Horgan wins the general election, candidates like Scott Elliott, Ravi Kahlon, Anne Kang, Lisa Beare, Jagrup Brar and George Chowwould possibly be joining him and could be considered for cabinet.