The Semlin ministry was the combined Cabinet that governed British Columbia from August 15, 1898, to February 27, 1900. It was led by Charles Augustus Semlin, the 12th premier of British Columbia. It was formed in the aftermath of the 1898 election, in which Lieutenant Governor Thomas Robert McInnes dismissed incumbent premier John Herbert Turner and asked Semlin to form a ministry instead. The ministry came to an end shortly after the defeat of government legislation concerning electoral reform. Though Semlin negotiated with opposition members to regain the legislature's confidence, McIness instead dismissed him and invited Joseph Martin to form the Martin ministry. New ministries. After a cabinet shuffle in March 1899, John Hume left his role as Provincial Secretary but retained his position as Minister of Mines. This was the first time that Minister of Mines had not been held jointly with another position; the split was due to the increased duties for the role.