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Christy Clark has hired a new chief of staff, and his experience includes working as a senior policy advisor and strategist to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Ken Boessenkool is replacing Mike McDonald, who will move to the job of principal secretary to the B.C. premier on February 15.

Boessenkool, currently a public policy consultant and an executive fellow at the University of Calgary, also served as a policy advisor to two Alberta finance ministers.

According to the Registry of Lobbyists, Boessenkool has lobbied the federal government on behalf of many corporations and organizations, including Enbridge, GlaxoSmithKline, Rio Tinto, SNC Lavalin Nuclear, Suncor Energy, Pfizer Canada, and Taser International.

Today's (January 12) news release from the office of the premier states: "Mr. Boessenkool and Mr. McDonald's duties will be divided between operations and strategic functions, respectively. As Chief of Staff to the Premier, Mr. Boessenkool will manage operations of the Premier's office, including management of the cabinet process and personnel. As Principal Secretary to the Premier, Mr. McDonald will be responsible for strategic planning on policy and communications, and liaising with the Government Caucus."

B.C. Conservative Party Leader John Cummins called Boessenkool an "Albertan super-lobbyist" and said Clark is "shuffling the deck chairs of the titanic".

"Today is further proof that the only people getting ahead in Liberal BC are lobbyists, cronies and insiders," Cummins stated in a news release.

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