The BC Liberal Party has announced its shadow cabinet under the new leader Shirley Bond.

And, all three Central Okanagan MLAs are set to play key roles in the opposition caucus.

The first-term MLA for Kelowna-Mission Renee Merrifield will take over Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnicksa国际传媒檚 former place as health critic. Ben Stewart has moved from critic for trade and citizenssa国际传媒� services to the critic for housing.

Letnick has moved out of a critic position and will instead take on the assistant deputy speaker role in the house.

Merrifield, a self-admitted sa国际传媒渞ookiesa国际传媒� politician who has never before held public office, is being thrust into one of the Liberal Partysa国际传媒檚 most prominent positions as the health critic in the middle of a pandemic. Itsa国际传媒檚 an opportunity, she said, she was shocked to be offered but honoured to take on.

sa国际传媒淲hat I lack in experience, Isa国际传媒檓 going to make up for in hard work, diligence, passion, excitement and ultimately, learning,sa国际传媒� she said.

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Letnick received bi-partisan accolades for his work early in the pandemic, specifically for setting up town halls across party lines. Merrifield said shesa国际传媒檚 looking to continue building upon what Letnick laid the groundwork for.

Previously, Merrifield served on the Interior Health board of directors from 2015 through 2017.

For his new role as housing critic, Stewart is hoping to hold the government to account on what he describes as

sa国际传媒淚 havensa国际传媒檛 been particularly impressed with the results of the government sa国际传媒� in terms of housing affordability and housing supply,sa国际传媒� said Stewart. sa国际传媒淭hree years ago, it was all about making life more affordable. Isa国际传媒檓 sorry, but I donsa国际传媒檛 think it is more affordable.sa国际传媒�

As for Letnick, he said he is looking forward to embracing his position as the assistant deputy speaker under the partysa国际传媒檚 interim leader. The assistant deputy speaker presides over debate in the assembly if both the speaker and deputy speaker are absent.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com

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