AFTER AN ABSENCE of eight years, the Skeena tiding once more — is represented al the cabinet table in Victoria. It happened July 21 with the appointment of Skeena NDP MLA Helmut Gies- brecht as public service minister in a series of moves by Premier GlenClark. In effect, Gicesbrecht . is both the personnel manager and the landlord for the provincial goverument, That’s because he’s now responsible for the B.C. Buildings Corporation, a crown corporation, which handles government build- ings, and for various agen- cies which manage the pub- lic servants who work for the province. The public service minis- ter portfolio js relatively new, created carlier this year when Moe Sihota was returned to the cabinet with thal title. He’s now the so- cia] development and eco- nomic security minister, an- other new portfolio. Giesbrecht takes over some of Sihota’s former jab, but not all of it Speaking fast week, the new minister said a large amount of his time would be speut on personnel issues. “When you have a climate under restraint, it can be difficult,’ said Gies- brecht. ‘'T know some of the . civil service is not happy and [lt be dealing with’ did ‘OK’ | Il THE B.C. Liberal party may like the idea of having Skeena Reform MP Mike Scolt switch from federal politics and run for them here in the next provincial election but he can’t find out he did in a recent poll. The opinion poll was con- ducted by provincial Liber- als and tested Scott’s name along with those of municipal politicians. ‘{ asked for. the results and they declined io give them to me,”’ said Scott. “They did say I did OK but nothing else.” Scott docsn’t say he won't ever consider switching from federal to provincial politics, but adds he was elected to the federal Skeena riding and will continue to serve that role, His name also popped up on an intemmal Reform party mema as one of approxi-- maicly 20 Reform MPs across the country who might be being courted by various provincial political parties. That memo was written by senior Reform party staff member Rick Anderson. “One of the jobs of the party is election readiness and although we may be some time away from an’ election federally, Anderson was just doing his job to keep the party informed,” said Scott. In the chairman of the northwest chapter of the Dissatisfied Citizens Coalition feels Scott would make an ex- cellent provincial Liberal candidate. Steve Cook and other coalition members have. been encouraging provincial Liberals and Reformers to unite to present a common front opposing (he NDP goverment “He could run under any banner,’* Scott, “I'd love to see bim in provincial politics,”’ Cook added Scott would be a credible and competent candidate. , The key for the north is to find peopte who can proper: ly represent the area in the south, Cook said. Cook said the problem has always been to find a way | for the north to have a say in provincial policy making. AB - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 28, 1999 Giesbrecht gets cabinet job as Clark shuffles the deck meantime, the - said Cook of. politics . and. that.” There was some specula- tion prior to the appointment that Giesbrecht would-be named to the cabinet. But Gicsbrecht said he had no idea what job he'd be doing until about two hours before being swom in the: afternoon of July 21. *‘T just knew that whatever ‘ I might get would have an-- upside ‘and a downside,’ Said the MLA in adding that’s the case when it com- | es to dealing with different and competing interests. Giesbrecht, 56, was first elected to the provincial legislature in 1991, defeat- ing Social Credil candidate Dave Parker who was him- self a sitting cabinet mem- ber, He was returmed in 1996, defeating Liberal candidate Rick Wozney who was then, and still is, the mayor of Kitimat. Giesbrecht said he really fought three campaigns ~— the provincial campaigns of 191 and 1996 and the failed recall campaign through the winter of 1997-1998. Giesbrecht left his teach- ing position at Skeena Jun- jor Secondary when he was elected in 1991, Prior to his cabinet ap- Ppointment, Giesbrecht was parliamentary secretary to health minister Penny Priddy. That resulted in an extra $6,000 a year-on top of his MLA’s pay of $69,900. Giesbrecht will now receive his MLA’s salary and a cab- inet stipend of $39,000 fora total of $108,900. All of that is taxable, Giesbrecht’s appointment continues a tradition of hav- ing Icgislative members from Skeena in the cabinet, Social Credit Dave Parker, the MLA kere from 1986 to 1991, held several port- folios, including fqgestry. Prior to that, Cyril Shei- ford, another Social MLA, was agriculture minister un- der Premier Bill Bennett. Helmut Giesbrecht MLA says post Is not a reward BEING NAMED to the provincial cabinet isn’t a reward for supporting Premier Glen Clark, says Helmut Gies- brecht. ; The Skeena NDP MLA was placed in the cabinet July 21 just one day after he make a strong statement backing Clark who has been the focus of criticism by his party. “T’ve been a social democrat way back since about 1971 and V7ll be a social democrat regardless of who is there. If I’m asked to do a job, I'll step in,’? said Giesbrecht last week, "It may not be a perfect time to be in cabinet or to be a part of this government but there are challenges and you have to rise to the challenges,’* he said. The new minister acknowledged that the government has todo a better job of communicating. Giesbrecht said ke paid his dues, having been first elected in 1991, being re-elected in 1996 and by surviving a failed recall attempt in 1998. “This is not a reward for supporting Clark. 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