It has been said that a person must learn to walk before they can run.
In that light, Premier David Eby naming four rookie MLAs to his cabinet is a bold move.
Among these is North Coast-Haida Gwaii's first-time MLA Tamara Davidson assigned the role of environment and parks minister. Nothing against Davidson, or the others, but entrusting them with ministerial duties before they even know where the cafeteria is, seems a little premature.
Politically, though, it is a nod to northern B.C. (the only nod Eby could make because she was the only NDP candidate elected on Oct. 19).
It has also been said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result.
So, maybe injecting some new blood into an old situation will pay dividends. Time will tell.
Davidson does have a good deal of experience in government on the bureaucracy side of the table.
And ministerial responsibility for environmental matters goes hand-in-hand with climate issues for which veteran cabinet minister Adrian Dix (the former health minister) now has responsibility as energy and climate change minister. Perhaps Davidson will have an able mentor.
The new cabinet is interesting in a lot of ways.
For one, it is dominated by women. There are 23 ministers and four ministers of state, of which 17 are women.
For another, it is huge. There are four new ministries. And the 27 ministers in the cabinet will be supported by 14 parliamentary secretaries meaning 41 of the 47 elected NDP MLAs have portfolios with added responsibilities and the accompanying pay raise.
Opposition leader John Rustad has called the new government "bloated."
The Office of the Premier said it "reflects the diversity and strengths of British Columbia," in a press release.
We can only hope it is the latter and that this government is ready to tackle the very real and big issues facing our province.
The new government has not yet begun to operate, but it is certainly different, while also being the same.
It's hard not to be a little bit skeptical, However, we do wish them the very best in accomplishing their goals and we should all do our part to help them.
After all, it is all our futures that are at stake.
