MLA for Nechako Lakes John Rustad, who had been serving as both minister of aboriginal relations and minister of forests, is not included in the province鈥檚 new cabinet.

Rustad had been serving as minister of aboriginal relations and reconciliation since June 2013. The appointment as forests minister only took place last month.

B.C. NDP leader John Horgan was sworn in as the new Premier of British Columbia on July 18, the same day that the new cabinet was unveiled. This marks the first time in 16 years that a party other than the B.C. Liberals will have control of the legislature.

The NDP points out this is the first time in B.C. history that the cabinet will achieve gender parity with 11 women either named to cabinet or as a minister of state. The new cabinet includes 20 ministers and two ministers of state, while another six MLAs have been named as parliamentary secretaries.

The new government also includes a broad mix of experience including four ministers and two parliamentary secretaries aged 40 and under, 10 ministers and parliamentary secretaries who identify as a visible minority, and the first First Nations woman appointed to cabinet.

They鈥檝e also shuffled some of the ministerial portfolios to include a stand-alone Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, a Minister of State for Child Care and a Minister for Social Development and Poverty Reduction.

鈥淪tarting today, we will deliver a government that works for people. We鈥檙e going to work hard every day to build a better B.C.,鈥� said Horgan.

Green Party leader Andrew Weaver said the new minority government is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to do politics differently in British Columbia.

鈥淲e have a historic opportunity to put partisan politics aside and work together across party lines to advance good public policy that is in the best interests of British Columbians,鈥� he said.

Rustad did not respond to Lakes District 亚洲天堂 by press time. For a complete list of the new cabinet, visit www.ldnews.net.

- With files from Tom Fletcher