Rookie MLA to oversee B.C. education after cabinet shuffle

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark responds to questions about the teachers' dispute and strike on Tuesday May 27, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

A rookie MLA will oversee B.C.’s Ministry of Education after a surprise cabinet shuffle announced by Premier Christy Clark Thursday.

Peter Fassbender, who served as the public face of the province’s long contract dispute with unionized teachers, has been shuffled out of the education ministry.

Fassbender will now be the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, and is now also responsible for TransLink.

Mike Bernier, who was elected for the first time in 2013, will take over as Education Minister.

Bernier previously served as the parliamentary secretary for the environment ministry, and was the mayor of Dawson Creek.

Coralee Oakes becomes Minister of Small Business and responsible for the Liquor Distribution Branch, and Naomi Yamamoto is now Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness, which will now be in the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

The premier says the changes are about making sure people in B.C. benefit from the province's plan to create jobs by strengthening the economy.