John Yap dropped from Christy Clark's new cabinet

Richmond-Steveston MLA John Yap (left) and Richmond Centre MLA Rob Howard.

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Richmond is without a provincial cabinet minister for the first time since the B.C. Liberal government took power in 2001.

Richmond-Steveston MLA John Yap, minister of state for climate change, was dropped from cabinet as Premier Christy Clark announced a leaner cabinet on Monday.

Yap was appointed parliamentary secretary for clean technology to the minister of energy and mines, one of 10 MLAs to get parliamentary secretary designations. Parliamentary secretaries will work with ministers to focus on key initiatives of government.

Richmond Centre MLA Rob Howard and Richmond East MLA Linda Reid are also not in cabinet. Reid served in cabinet for two terms under former premier Gordon Campbell, but has been deputy speaker since the 2009 election.

Richmond has also been represented in cabinet in the past by MLAs Greg Halsey-Brandt, Geoff Plant and Olga Ilich.

Clark appointed 17 cabinet ministers down from 23 under Campbell. She dropped the ministers of state, who were ministers who didn’t have full ministries.

Clark won the Liberal leadership last month. Her main rivals were included in cabinet: Kevin Falcon as deputy premier and finance minister, George Abbott as education minister and Mike de Jong as health minister.

Others dropped from cabinet include finance minister Colin Hansen and environment minister Murray Coell.

The cabinet is:

•Premier Christy Clark

•Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance Kevin Falcon

•Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Mary Polak

•Minister of Advanced Education Naomi Yamamoto

•Minister of Agriculture Don McRae

•Attorney General Barry Penner

•Minister of Children and Family Development Mary McNeil

•Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development  Ida Chong

•Minister of Education George Abbott

•Minister of Energy and Mines (minister responsible for Housing) Rich Coleman

•Minister of Environment Terry Lake

•Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson

•Minister of Health Michael de Jong

•Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Pat Bell

•Minister of Labour, Citizens’ Services and Open Government Stephanie Cadieux

•Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Shirley Bond

•Minister of Social Development (minister responsible for multiculturalism)  Harry Bloy

•Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Blair Lekstrom