Government operatives who weren't planning on seeing the provincial Liberals through the next election were told, during the last legislative session, to pack their bags, says an insider. Among those departing for milder climes, Health Minister Colin Hansen's longtime ministerial assistant Kim Chan who is traveling to the land of government communications consultants, where the pay is better and the hours shorter. Another insider described the talented Ms. Chan's resignation as a major loss for the government.

Minister of State for Resort Development Sandi Santori's ministerial assistant Pam Shatzko has also resigned to complete her masters in public administration at the University of Victoria. Bureaucratic denizens will best remember her as the executive assistant and later ministerial assistant to then Minister of State for Deregulation Kevin Falcon (who has since moved onto better things, becoming Premier Gordon Campbell's very own mini-me).

Former Children and Family Development Minister Gordon Hogg's ministerial assistant Val Hamilton (who will now be working for the Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia in Vancouver) and Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services Minister Murray's executive assistant Sarah Pendray have also quit the Rockpile, as has Energy and Mines Minister Rich Neufeld's ministerial assistant Colleen Sweet, who is going on maternity leave.