B.C.'s new economic recovery minister says getting through pandemic will be team effort

The British Columbia cabinet minister appointed tolead the province's COVID-19 pandemic recovery says he plans tomount a large team effort from inside and outside of government to spureconomic success.

Ravi Kahlon, a former Canadian Olympian in field hockey, said hewill look to involve ministries, businesses, communities and workersin an effort to provide immediate help to struggling businesses andsteer toward a post-pandemic future focused on innovation.

"We have to have everyone working together,'' he said in arecent interview.

"You look at how businesses have worked together with governmentto deliver pieces during the pandemic,'' said Kahlon. "That's thesame mentality we're going to need when we get out. We can putcritical pieces in place, incentives and supports, so that we canbounce back at a rate which most people in B.C. expect.''

Premier John Horgan appointed Kahlon as jobs, economic recoveryand innovation minister last week, saying he piled enormousresponsibilities onto the two-term New Democrat from suburbanVancouver and expected results.

Horgan appointed his cabinet following last month's electionwhere the NDP won a majority government, capturing 57 of 87 seats.

Kahlon, 41, who previously served as a parliamentary secretary inthe forests ministry and led the reintroduction of B.C.'s HumanRights Commission, said he will consult broadly on the recovery.

"My view with everything is the government doesn't have amonopoly on good ideas,'' he said. "There are good ideas in thecommunity. There are good ideas in the business community, goodideas from local elected officials.''

Horgan issued mandate letters to the ministers and parliamentarysecretaries stating the government's overall goals: people first,clean environment, Indigenous reconciliation, equity andanti-racism, health and strong economy.

He also provided each of the 37 ministers, ministers of state andparliamentary secretaries with individual mandate goals.

Among the goals for ministers are: free transit for children 12years old and younger, drop the seven per cent provincial sales taxon e-bikes and consider public condominium insurance if the issue ofskyrocketing rates is not resolved by 2021.

Horgan asked Kahlon to "deliver initiatives that will directlysupport small businesses and build an inclusive economic recoveryacross B.C.''

Recovery 'is a little premature': UBC prof

Prof. Tom Koch, a medical geographer at the University of B.C.who specializes in mapping diseases, said Horgan's cabinet shouldspend more time fighting today's pandemic than looking to arecovery.

"The priority of looking forward to me is a little premature,''he said. "It has to be done ... but the question immediately iswhat are we doing about hospitals and about hospital capacity andwhat are we doing about trying to rein in those areas whereaccelerators are occurring.''

B.C.'s most recent COVID-19 infection report saw a record dailyhigh of 911 cases Friday, while the death toll is nearing 400people.

Koch said economic recovery should play a part in Horgan'scabinet and government direction, but at this time when cases aresurging, the premier appears to be saying, "'do we basically want tostart planning the victory parade in the second quarter.'''

Kahlon said he expects businesses, communities, governments andpeople to work together to battle the pandemic.

"I think the pandemic is going to push societies to a placewhere innovation will be critical and I think we're well-positionedin B.C. to be not only leaders in Canada but I think world leaders.''