EXECUTIVE COUNCIL BIOGRAPHIES

HON. JOAN MCINTYRE

MINISTER OF STATE FOR INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS

Joan McIntyre was appointed Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations on June 23, 2008. She was first elected in the riding of West Vancouver-Garibaldi in the 2005 provincial general election.

Joan currently sits on Treasury Board, the Cabinet Committee on Climate Action and is vice-chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development. She has served on two Cabinet Committees, Agenda Development and Legislative Review. She has also served as the deputy chair of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, and as a member on the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and the Government Caucus Committee on Agricultural Planning. Joan sits as a government delegate to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) and sits as co-chair of the environment working group of PNWER.

In 1980, Joan co-founded the well-known BC polling firm of McIntyre & Mustel Research Associates Ltd.

HON. BLAIR LEKSTROM

MINISTER OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Blair Lekstrom was appointed Minister of Community Development on June 23, 2008. He was first elected in the 2001 provincial general election in the riding of Peace River South, and was re-elected for a second term in the 2005 general election.

Blair currently sits on the Legislative Review Committee, Cabinet Committee on Climate Action, Cabinet Committee on New Relationship Coordination, the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and Economy, and the Environment and Land Use Committee. He has served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Development, chaired the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services (2001, 2002, 2005 and 2006) and served on the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Agriculture Policy Development Committee, the Legislative Review Committee and the Government Caucus Committee on the Economy. He has also served as the chair of the Legislative Committee to review the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the BC Offshore Oil and Gas Committee. He has been a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, the Select Standing Committee on Health, the Northern Caucus Committee, the Cabinet Committee on Agenda & Priorities, and the Legislative Committee on the Citizens’ Assembly on Electoral Reform.

Before becoming an MLA, Blair was serving his second term as mayor of the City of Dawson Creek. He was first elected mayor in 1996, after serving for three years as a councillor.

HON. MARY POLAK

MINISTER OF HEALTHY LIVING AND SPORT

Mary Polak was appointed Minister of Healthy Living and Sport on June 23, 2008. She was elected to the Legislature in 2005 to represent Langley. On December 19, 2006, the Premier appointed her as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for the Conversation on Health.

Mary currently sits on the Cabinet Committee on New Relationship Coordination and the Government Caucus Committee on Social Development. She has served on the Government Caucus Committee for Natural Resources and the Economy, the Select Standing Committees for Children and Youth, Education and Public Accounts. She has also been a member of the Cabinet Committee on Agenda Development and the Special Committee to Review the Personal Information Protection Act.

Before being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Mary was director of operations for a small polling and research firm and a trustee and former chair of the Surrey School Board.

HON. IAIN BLACK

MINISTER OF LABOUR AND CITIZENS’ SERVICES

Iain Black was appointed Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services on June 23, 2008. He was elected to represent the riding of Port Moody-Westwood in the 2005 provincial general election.

Iain currently sits on the Cabinet Committee on Climate Action. He has served on the BC Provincial Treasury Board, and three Select Standing Committees of the Legislature including Finance and Government Services, Public Accounts, as chair of Crown Corporations, and as chair of the Special Committee to Appoint a Conflict of Interest Commissioner. He has also chaired the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and the Economy.

Before entering politics, Iain had a successful career in the technology industry and was president of the Banking Solutions Group of Open Solutions Canada.

HON. BILL BENNETT

MINISTER OF TOURISM, CULTURE AND THE ARTS

Bill Bennett was appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts on June 23, 2008. He was elected to represent the riding of East Kootenay in the 2001 provincial election and re-elected in 2005.

Bill currently sits on the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and Economy and the Environment and Land Use Committee. He has served as Minister of State for Mining and has also served as chair of the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Children and Youth, and chair of the BC Outdoor Caucus. Bill has served as deputy chair of the Parliamentary Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, as deputy chair of the Legislative Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations and as a member of the Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct Committee, Standing Orders and Private Bills Committee. He has been a member of the Premier's Olympic Live Sites Committee, the Caucus Committee on Treaties, the Waste Management Review Committee and as a legislative member of the committee for the Pacific Northwest Economic Region. Bill also served on the Committee of Development of the Provincial Noxious Weed Strategy, the Land Use Task Force as well as the Small Scale Salvage Committee and the Mining Task Force.

Before being elected, Bill was a partner in a Cranbrook law firm. He also served as BC Chamber of Commerce first vice-chair and as a member and president of the Cranbrook and District Chamber of Commerce. Bill spent 21 years in the tourism industry as an employee, manager and an owner.

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Media contact:	Bridgitte Anderson Press Secretary Office of the Premier 604 307-7177

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