Vancouver: On Jan. 26, in his first cabinet shuffle since taking office in 2001, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell shifted the responsibility for the provincial film industry to Chilliwack-Sumas MLA John Les, the former government caucus chair and the newly minted minister of small business and economic development.

As part of the change, the provincial government has dropped the old Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise and former film minister Rick Thorpe has moved on to be minister of provincial revenue.

Industry players were set to meet the new minister, a former mayor of Chilliwack and a rising political star, at a Feb. 11 reception. Most industry watchers are encouraged that the film file has been moved to the small business portfolio, which also includes the Cultural Services Branch and the B.C. Arts Council. The next B.C. provincial election is May 2005.