New finance minister brings 'rural tough' perspective to B.C.'s bottom line, Eby says
Katrine Conroy says she asked to keep her old job as British Columbia's forests minister because there was unfinished business, but Premier David Eby had other plans and put her in charge of managing the province's finances.
The veteran New Democrat, who was first elected in 2005, said she was surprised she was appointed finance minister in Eby's new cabinet.
Conroy inherits a budget with a projected surplus of $5.7 billion this year, but the good times are not expected to last, with private and government forecasters saying B.C.'s economic growth will dip to less than one per cent next year.
“There's stuff to do,” Conroy said Thursday in an interview. “There's big challenges. Actually, I'm quite honoured he asked me to take on this portfolio.”
Eby described his new cabinet as a blend of experienced politicians and energetic newcomers who will focus on big issues facing the province.
The new finance minister will bring a rural perspective to her portfolio, in contrast to the urban-centred views of Eby and other cabinet ministers from larger communities, the premier said on Wednesday.
He noted Conroy lives on a ranch and has been known to participate in family hunting trips.
Conroy said she and her cabinet colleagues will deliberate on how best to address the surplus and the challenges ahead.
“I'm a very collaborative person and I'm going to ensure we're going to carry on doing the things we need to do,” Conroy said. “People want us to ensure we're carrying on doing that work around making sure we've got housing for British Columbians and that things are affordable.”
Eby's mandate letter for Conroy sets out several priorities, including possibly strengthening the Speculation and Vacancy Tax, working to deliver the renters' rebate to help bring down costs for renters and providing cost-of-living supports to people in response to global inflation and economic uncertainty.
The NDP government introduced the Speculation and Vacancy Tax in 2018 to discourage housing speculation and vacant homes. The tax also targeted foreign owners and satellite families who have Canadian citizenship but earn their incomes outside Canada.
The government promised a $400 renters' rebate during the 2017 election campaign but has yet to implement the pledge.
Conroy said she agrees with Eby's description of her approach to work and life as a person who is “rural tough.”
“It's the truth, I'm from rural B.C. and some of my colleagues are from urban B.C. and we need all voices at the table. We definitely need to hear rural voices at the table. That's what I bring.”
Conroy, who has four children and nine grandchildren, lives on a ranch at Pass Creek located just outside of Castlegar in southeast B.C.
Her late husband, Ed Conroy, also served as the area's New Democrat MLA.
Conroy has had a varied career outside of politics, including being one of the province's first female power engineers, a person who supervises, operates and maintains machinery and boilers.
She was also an early childhood educator, director of a multi-service non-profit agency, a college instructor and a small businesswoman.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada Disability Benefit needs to be safeguarded from clawbacks, MPs unanimously agree
The federal government needs to safeguard the incoming Canada Disability Benefit from clawbacks and do more to ensure it actually meets the stated aim of lifting people living with disabilities out of poverty, MPs from all parties agree.
Security guard shot, seriously injured outside of Drake's Toronto mansion
A security guard working at Drake’s Bridle Path mansion in Toronto was seriously injured in a shooting outside the residence early Tuesday morning, police said.
King Charles too busy to see son Prince Harry during U.K. trip
Prince Harry will not be seeing his father King Charles during his current visit to Britain as the monarch will be too busy, Harry's spokesperson said on Tuesday.
opinion Tom Mulcair: Turfing Poilievre from House a clear sign of desperation by Trudeau Liberals
When Speaker Greg Fergus tossed out Pierre Poilievre from the House last week, "those of us who have experience as parliamentarians simply couldn't believe our eyes," writes former NDP leader Tom Mulcair in his column for CTVNews.ca
Your body needs these three forms of movement every week
Movement is movement, right? Not exactly. Here’s what your body is looking for in addition to your morning walk or yoga session, according to experts.
Testifying in hush money trial, adult film actor Stormy Daniels describes first meeting Trump
Stormy Daniels took the witness stand Tuesday in the hush money trial of former U.S. president Donald Trump, prepared to testify about a sexual encounter the porn actor says she had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid off to keep silent during the presidential election 10 years later.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
Boy Scouts of America changing name for first time in 114 years, aiming for inclusivity
The Boy Scouts of America is changing its name for the first time in its 114-year history and will become Scouting America. It's a significant shift as the organization emerges from bankruptcy following a flood of sexual abuse claims and seeks to focus on inclusion.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.