Has Nathan Cullen telegraphed an upcoming cabinet shuffle?

An interesting turn of a phrase during the Thursday afternoon session of the British Columbia Legislature may have telegraphed some plans from Premier John Horgan towards an upcoming cabinet shuffle.

Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen offered up the potential forecast of cabinet change while replying to the Speaker on Thursday afternoon, that after an introduction to the Chamber making note of the Stikine MLA's duties with the Horgan government.

" Recognizing the Minister of State for Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development — something like that. Really important — it's a lot of letters, yes" -- Deputy Speaker Chandra-Hebert

"There is change afoot, Mr. Speaker, so you don't have to get too wedded to the name, forever and ever." -- Stikine MLA Nathan Cullen

Now Mr. Cullen does not set a timeline for the change that may be afoot, but it's not surprising to consider that the Premier may be planning a shuffle of the chair assignments around the Big Cabinet Table.

It's the start of a new session, with a continuation of an ambitious blue print of change that the NDP seems to want to move forward. 

The Government is facing an opposition just coming out of a lengthy leadership contest and a caucus that can now refocus its attention on the government and some of its policies and plans that they feel are wrong minded and controversial.

So making sure that he has the proper people in place in key cabinet positions would be just a normal move in the game of political chess that plays out in Victoria.

A potential shuffle does offer up a few themes of importance for the Northwest however. 

First off for Mr. Cullen, who has served in the role of Minister of State over the last few years and might one thinks be destined for a much larger role in Cabinet, that in order to make better use of his years of experience from the Federal scene before his entry into provincial politics.

Beyond his skills in oratory as displayed during his presentations in the Chamber, Mr. Cullen has also shown a good ability to give as good as he takes in the legislature and would be able to take on the challenges and barbs head on, of what is now a renewed Opposition set to return to the debate.

For North Coast residents the focus will be on whether North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice gains an upgrade from her long running stint as Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness, a post she has held for a number of years.

Considering how she's been in Victoria since 2013 and is now one of the longer serving MLA's with the NDP in the Legislature, those in the constituency may be hoping that any potential shuffle will bring a post with a bit more heft around the Cabinet table and an opportunity to advocate many of the growing issues of note across the riding.

What may be to come of course we won't know until the Premier holds his audition call for change to the Cabinet composition and other than Mr. Cullen's helpful guidance for the Deputy Speaker, the rumbles of a shuffle remain faint so far in Victoria.

You can give a listen to the short nod to the future from the Legislature video archive starting at the 2:57 PM mark.

Towards whatever progress to the theme that may come, watch the spaces below:

For notes on the work of the three MLA's of the Northwest see our archive page here.

A look at some of the developments from Victoria can be explored further through our Political blog D'Arcy McGee and our Victoria Viewpoints.