Premier Gordon Campbell reshaped his government Monday, promoting five backbenchers to cabinet posts and moving veterans into key jobs including finance and forests.

With high-profile female ministers Carole Taylor and Olga Ilich choosing not to run again next year, Campbell promoted Langley MLA Mary Polak to a new ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, and West Vancouver-Garibaldi MLA Joan McIntyre to Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations.

Regional as well as gender politics apparently played a role. East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett, the only B.C. Liberal MLA in the southeast, returns to the cabinet at Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts. And Iain Black, who holds the hotly contested seat of Port Moody-Westwood, replaces Ilich as Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services.

Vancouver-Quilchena MLA Colin Hansen moves from Economic Development back to Finance to replace Taylor. Hansen held both the finance and health portfolios during Campbell's first term in office.

As expected, Prince George North MLA Pat Bell takes over as Minister of Forest and Range, replacing Fort Langley-Aldergrove's Rich Coleman at a time of crisis in the industry. Veteran Comox Valley MLA Stan Hagen takes over from Bell as Minister of Agriculture and Lands.

Coleman keeps responsibility for housing in a new ministry of Housing and Social Development, which encompasses the Employment and Income Assistance portfolio that was held by retiring Kamloops MLA Claude Richmond.

Peace River South MLA Blair Lekstrom is promoted to another new job, Minister of Community Development. That includes the former community services role with additional responsibilities of mountain pine beetle mitigation and "community adjustment."

Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong leaves community services to take over Hansen's former role, now known as Technology, Trade and Economic Development and Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative.

Kamloops North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger moves from mines to Minister of Small Business and Revenue, replacing retiring Okanagan-Westside MLA Rick Thorpe.

Surrey-White Rock MLA Gordon Hogg takes over as Minister of State for Mines, with his former ActNow fitness duties included in Polak's new ministry.

Key ministers that are not moving include Attorney-General Wally Oppal, who finally confirmed on the weekend he will run again in May 2009.

Also unchanged are Health Minister George Abbott, Aboriginal Relations Minister Mike de Jong, Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen, Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell, Education Minister Shirley Bond, Environment Minister Barry Penner, Public Safety Minister John van Dongen, Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon and Energy Minister Richard Neufeld.