Premier David Eby is shuffling some of his key cabinet positions after Finance Minister Brenda Bailey announced she was diagnosed with early-stage cancer.
Bailey announced Thursday she has been diagnosed with a “treatable” form of cancer. She said she has been given a good prognosis for a full recovery and expects to return to the legislature for the fall session.
Josie Osborne moves from the health file to the role of finance minister. However, Eby said Energy and Climate Solutions Minister Adrian Dix will temporarily cover Bailey’s portfolio alongside his current duties while Bailey is on leave for six weeks to receive treatment.
Bailey is set to return to the role of minister for jobs and economic growth in the fall, taking over for Ravi Kahlon who has been appointed health minister.
Eby said Friday budget preparations are well underway, and that work will continue.
“This is a very heavy workload obviously to carry while you are also going through cancer treatment. Nobody should have to do that. And so Brenda will be going back to a file that she knows and can excel at with work she can pick up immediately once she’s back,” he said.
“I’m proud of the results that Brenda delivered, bending the cost curve in government, delivering the projected cost savings in our budget and ensuring economic growth at the same time that exceeded projections,” said Eby. “These are big shoes for Josie to step into, but I have confidence that she’ll be able to do that,” he said.
It will be the fifth portfolio for Osborne, who has previously also served as minister of municipal affairs, minister of land, water and resource stewardship, and minister of energy, mines and low carbon innovation. She has been health minister since November 2024.
Osborne said she takes her new role “very seriously.”
“I know how hard British Columbians work for their money and they expect us to manage it responsibly, to make sound decisions, disciplined decisions, careful decisions. That is the work that Minister Bailey has led us on and the work that I will continue to do,” she said.
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