Johnston ministry

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Johnston ministry
Flag of British Columbia.svg
29th ministry of British Columbia
Date formedApril 2, 1991 (1991-04-02)
Date dissolvedNovember 5, 1991 (1991-11-05)
People and organisations
Monarch Elizabeth II
Lieutenant Governor David Lam
Premier Rita Johnston
Member party Social Credit
Status in legislature Majority
Opposition party New Democratic Party
Opposition leader Mike Harcourt
History
Legislature term 34th Parliament of British Columbia
Predecessor Vander Zalm ministry
Successor Harcourt ministry

The Johnston ministry was the combined Cabinet (formally the Executive Council of British Columbia) that governed British Columbia from April 2, 1991, to November 5, 1991. It was led by Rita Johnston, the 29th premier of British Columbia, and consisted of members of the Social Credit Party.

Contents

The Johnston ministry was in office for the last seven months of the 34th Parliament of British Columbia. Johnston was Deputy Premier of British Columbia in the preceding Vander Zalm ministry; following Bill Vander Zalm's resignation, the Social Credit caucus selected her to be the interim leader (and thus premier) while the party could organize a leadership convention. Johnston successfully stood for the permanent leadership. She was the first woman to serve as a first minister in Canada. [1]

Following the 1991 election, which the Social Credit Party lost, the ministry was replaced by the Harcourt ministry. [1]

List of ministers

Johnston ministry by portfolio
PortfolioMinisterTenure
StartEnd
Premier of British Columbia Rita Johnston April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology Bruce Strachan April 2, 1991May 7, 1991
Stan Hagen May 7, 1991May 29, 1991
Peter Albert Dueck May 29, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Harry de Jong April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Larry Chalmers April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Attorney General Russell Fraser April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Crown Lands Dave Parker April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Minister of Development, Trade and Tourism Howard Dirks April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Education Stan Hagen April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Jack Weisgerber April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Environment Clifford Serwa April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
David Mercier April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister responsible for Families Carol Gran April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Finance and Corporate Relations Elwood Veitch April 2, 1991April 8, 1991
Mel Couvelier April 8, 1991May 7, 1991
John Jansen May 7, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Forests Claude Richmond April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Government Management Services Carol Gran April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Minister of Health John Jansen April 2, 1991May 7, 1991
Bruce Strachan May 7, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of International Business and Immigration Elwood Veitch April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Minister of Labour and Consumer Services James Rabbitt April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Lands and Parks Dave Parker April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister responsible for Multiculturalism and Immigration Elwood Veitch April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Municipal Affairs, Recreation and Culture Lyall Hanson April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Graham Bruce April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Native Affairs Jack Weisgerber April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
John Savage April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Parks John Savage April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Provincial Secretary Howard Dirks April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Elwood Veitch April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Regional and Economic Development Bud Smith April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Minister responsible for Seniors John Jansen April 2, 1991May 7, 1991
Bruce Strachan May 7, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Social Services and Housing Norman Jacobsen April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Solicitor General Ivan Messmer April 2, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Tourism Cliff Michael April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Minister of Transportation and Highways Rita Johnston April 2, 1991April 15, 1991
Lyall Hanson April 15, 1991November 5, 1991
Minister of Women's Programs and Government Services [a] Carol Gran April 2, 1991November 5, 1991

Cabinet shuffles

On April 8, Johnston reappointed Mel Couvelier as finance minister. Couvelier had previously been finance minister under Vander Zalm, but had resigned on March 6 as a protest against Vander Zalm's conflict-of-interest investigation. Elwood Veitch, who had taken over the finance ministry after Couvelier's resignation, remained in cabinet as minister of international business and immigration. [2]

Johnston shuffled her cabinet on April 15. Three new members joined: Graham Bruce, Larry Chalmers and David Mercier. Notably, Bruce and Mercier were two of the four MLAs who had quit the party caucus in 1989 in protest of Vander Zalm's leadership. Meanwhile, four ministers left cabinet: Harry de Jong, Cliff Michael, Cliff Serwa and Bud Smith. Several portfolios were reconfigured or merged to accommodate the slightly smaller cabinet. The new Ministry of Lands and Parks was created by joining the Ministry of Parks and Ministry of Crown Lands; the tourism and international business portfolios were combined as the new Ministry of Development, Trade and Tourism; and the remaining immigration portfolio was expanded to include multiculturalism. [3]

On May 7, Johnston fired Couvelier from cabinet for allegedly breaching the confidentiality provisions of the Financial Institutions Act. Couvelier's departure caused a mini-shuffle: John Jansen was named the new finance minister, Bruce Strachan moved into Jansen's old role as health minister, and Stan Hagen took over Strachan's old portfolio of advanced education (while remaining education minister). [4]

On May 29, Peter Albert Dueck was appointed Minister of Advanced Education. Dueck had previously been in Vander Zalm's cabinet until being forced to resign in May 1990 over an expenses scandal; after an RCMP investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing, Johnston invited him back to cabinet. [5]

Notes

  1. "Minister responsible for Women's Programs" from April 2, 1991 to April 15, 1991

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References

Citations

  1. 1 2 "Rita Johnston | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  2. Hunter, Justine (April 9, 1991). "Couvelier predicting deficit in new budget". Vancouver Sun . pp. A1–A2.
  3. Leyne, Les (April 16, 1991). "Ex-rebels join cabinet". Times Colonist . pp. A1–A2.
  4. Hauka, Don (May 8, 1991). "Couvelier wants an explanation for ouster". The Province . p. 5.
  5. Young, Mary Lynn (May 30, 1991). "Dueck returns to cabinet after being 'vindicated'". pp. B7.

Sources

"Rita Johnston Cabinet" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. Retrieved September 7, 2022.