B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell has appointed his cabinet, naming rookies to some key jobs and shedding some longtime ministers.

Front-bench heavyweight Mike de Jong, the government's house leader, becomes attorney general, filling a hole left when Wally Oppal was defeated in a tight race against an independent candidate.

Oppal was the only member of the last cabinet to be defeated in the May 12 election.

Colin Hansen remains as finance minister but adds deputy premier to his title.

Former West Vancouver police chief Kash Heed, elected for the first time May 12, becomes solicitor general.

Fellow rookie Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid becomes education minister.

In all, there will be nine new faces around the cabinet table.

George Abbott moves from his longtime post as minister of health to become the minister of aboriginal relations, a key portfolio as Campbell continues with plans to massively overhaul the province's approach to land claims.

"We will continue to work with B.C.'s First Nations to strengthen and build on our new relationship, which will create certainty and economic opportunity for aboriginal and non-aboriginal British Columbians alike," Campbell said in a news release.

Former transportation minister Kevin Falcon fills Abbott's job as health minister.

Shirley Bond, who had been education minister, now becomes minister of transportation. She loses the deputy premier title.

Barry Penner remains as environment minister, but Campbell has created a new junior portfolio to oversee climate action. Newcomer John Yap fills that spot.

Mary Polak was given a hefty promotion, moving from the relatively obscure portfolio of healthy living and sport into the difficult children's ministry.

Pat Bell stays as forests minister.

Campbell said his new cabinet will tackle the tough economy with zeal and ensure the province takes advantage of the 2010 Olympics.

"Three billion people will be introduced to B.C.," he said.

"I want those three billion viewers to feel the indomitable spirit of British Columbians."

The shuffle also saw Campbell kick some ministers out of cabinet, including Richmond-area MLA Linda Reid, who was the minister for childcare.

Campbell said she will be the government's nominee for deputy speaker.

Bill Barisoff will once again be the government's nominee for speaker.

Reid was elected for the Liberals in 1991 and has been in cabinet since the party formed government in 2001.

Also removed were Gordon Hogg, who has been in and out of cabinet several times, and Joan Macintyre. Former agriculture minister Ron Cantelon was also dropped after being in cabinet only since January.

In all, there are 21 ministers and four ministers of state. There are also five parliamentary secretaries.

Seven of the cabinet ministers are women.