In building new cabinet, NDP must avoid hurt feelings

It's the first major job of John Horgan's premiership: building a cabinet.

Over the past few weeks, Horganhas been busy mapping who will sit at the table once thepolitical game of musical chairs ends.

There is muchto be determined for the NDP leader who will become premier at a swearing in ceremony on July 18.

• NDP Leader John Horgan to be sworn in as B.C. premier July 18
• Former B.C. Premier Ujjal Dosanjh on how Horgan will pick his cabinet

No matter what happens,Horgancan't risk incurring the anger of any hisMLAs.The NDP was able to form a government after reaching an agreement with the Green Party, which has agreed to support the NDP on matters of confidence in the legislature.

But everyvote matters, with the legislature likely to be divided 43 Green/NDP MLAs to 43 Liberal MLAs, with one speaker.

That means even oneNew Democrat abstaining from a confidence vote could topple the government.

"Every single MLA is now going to be in power, so managing your caucus and keeping everyone happy is going to be job one," saidSimonFraserUniversitypolitical scientist DavidMoscrop.

"Really any MLA could be the end of your government. And that's not ideal."

Atthe same time, none of the NDP MLAs seem interested in going back to Opposition anytime soon. And the consensus isthey understand that building a cabinet is complicated.

'Work with what is there'

Thefirstchallengeis creating regional diversity in a cabinet comprised of about20 or 21 people, when only fourof his caucus colleagues are from outside Metro Vancouver or Vancouver Island.

"There is the old John A. McDonald story where itsays if you want a better cabinet, send me better wood," said NDPstrategistBillTieleman.

"That is always the challenge with every premier or prime minister, you have to work with what is there."

The regional breakdown bodes well for Michelle Mungall, Katrine Conroy, Doug Donaldson and Jennifer Rice, who are the only MLAs from outside Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island or the Sunshine Coast.

Big cities full of options

But regional break down is far more complicated than just the rural/urban split.

Horgan needs to be cautious about overloading the cabinet table with politicians from either the Capital Regional District or the city of Vancouver.

CaroleJames, Rob Fleming and Lana Popham all have realistic expectations to be part of the inner circle, but when you factor in Horgan himself, that would mean about 20 per cent of the cabinet is from around Victoria.

The bigger problem is the city of Vancouver.

Adrian Dix, David Eby andMelanie Mark should all expect to be handed major portfolios.

Then Horgan must decide what to do with George Chow, George Heyman, Spencer Chandra-Herbert, Mable Elmore andShane Simpson. All of them have credentials that would make them possible choices for cabinet, but they can't all go in because they represent the same city.

Getting close to gender parity

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also set anew standard for gender representationin cabinet.

Horgan has not made any commitments to name women to fill half of the cabinet roles, but he will still feel the pressure to have female voices at the table.

This will include James, Mark, Mungall,Selina Robinson and Judy Darcy occupying some of the most important jobs.

"I expect you will seegood diversity, said James, who is speaking on behalf of the transition team.

"We have a strong number of women in a caucus, I think you will see strong diversity from areas in British Columbia as well as gender."

The size of the cabinet also matters.

Must consider cabinet size

Outgoing premier Christy Clark had21 members of her cabinet before the provincial election and Horgan is expected to add a new portfolio of ministryofmental health and addictions.

Horgan may decide to change some current roles like cabinet members responsible for rural economic development, jobs and skills training, red tape reduction or natural gas development that were all created by Clark.

But the NDP would be cautious about eliminating all of those considering it could open the partyup for attacks that it isnot open to business.

The incoming premier also needs to consider some of the newly elected MLAs, including Anne Kang, Ravi Kahlon and Bowinn Ma.

All of this addsup to potentially upsetting those who are left out, ending the political honeymoon seemingly before it even starts.