Wednesday November 20, 2024 | LANGFORD, BC [Posted at 11:24 am | Updated 3:30 pm]
Political analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
On Monday November 18 Premier David Eby announced his new cabinet. Every MLA got a post to cabinet or executive or something in the workings of legislative politics.
Local MLA Ravi Parmar — who won the Langford-Highlands riding in the October 19 provincial election — on Monday was appointed as the new Minister of Forests. He has been publicly grateful and appreciative of that in social media. What we haven’t heard so much about is his post as Deputy Government House Leader.
Forestry is new for Parmar:
The forestry file is of course critical to many aspects of BC’s economy including jobs, manufacturing, environmental impacts and international trade.
At Langford council on Monday evening, Acting Mayor Mark Morley congratulated Parmar on the importance of that file, even though a lot of the attention to Forests won’t have a direct impact on Langford itself.
Forestry seems like it will be a new area for Parmar to learn the ropes of running a ministry. He does have connections in the Sooke and Juan de Fuca areas (where his previous riding of Langford-Juan de Fuca overlapped) where forestry had past success only to be replaced by tourism as an economic driver starting around 2007.
However, the deeper view is that BC Conservative Leader John Rustad was the Parliamentary Secretary for Forestry about 20 years ago. As Forestry Minister now, Parmar will have access to many of the decisions made back then by the now-leader of the Official Opposition.
Part of running the legislative ship:
Being Deputy Government House Leader is no small shake of the stick. The Government House Leader role guides the flow of legislation in the House. Parmar will be working with Government House Leader Mike Farnworth on that — a powerful career opportunity for Parmar to learn from one of the longest-serving MLAs in the BC Legislative Assembly.
West shore school district career:
Parmar built his political career here in the west shore as a school trustee with the Sooke School District (SD62), winning several elections (2014, 2018, and 2022). His base was built in the west shore side of the school district, i.e. Belmont Zone which has voters in Langford, Colwood, Metchosin and Highlands while the Milne’s Landing Zone has voters in Sooke and Juan de Fuca.
In June 2023 Parmar ran and won in the Langford-Juan de Fuca by-election; he was sworn-in at the BC Legislature by Premier Eby in July 2023 surrounded by friends and colleagues from SD62 and the broader NDP team.
Parmar was joined on the campaign trail this past summer by former Nanaimo (SD68) school trustee Stephanie Higginson, who is now MLA for Ladysmith-Oceanside and BC NDP Caucus Chair.
Comments rolling in:
- “Congratulations, Ravi! Cabinet is a great adventure and you’re taking on a very important ministry at a challenging time. All the best for great success!” ~ George Abbott, former BC Liberal MLA
- “Good luck with this Ravi, forestry is one of the most complex and consequential files in government plus a huge employment driver. There isn’t a community anywhere in the province where forestry isn’t a major influence in some way, and 150 of the 200+ First Nations of British Columbia are involved somehow in the forest economy. If anyone can aid the reset of this industry and help get it back on the path to growth, I strongly suspect you bring the requisite talent and determination to succeed.” ~ Stewart Muir
- “WoooHoooo!!! You are passionate about whatever you take on, and I know you will dive in to make sure that people benefit with family-supporting jobs and I also know you know this means forest health and sustainability. Looking forward to your visits to the Kootenays!” ~ Michelle Mungall, former BC NDP MLA
This past week:
Since last week, aside from being sworn in to the BC cabinet, Parmar has been hosting the signing of a Book of Condolences for the late John Horgan in the boardroom at the Langford-Highalnds constituency office.
Parmar celebrated his 30th birthday on November 15.
===== RELATED:
- Eby’s cabinet: tight at the top along with cross-ministry combos (November 19, 2024)
- Premier Eby appoints his cabinet for the 43rd BC Parliament (November 18, 2024)
- BC NDP cabinet appointments on November 18 (November 17, 2024)
- Book of Condolences for John Horgan in the west shore (November 15, 2024)
- NDP MLAs being sworn in November 13 (November 13, 2024)
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