Members

MLA: Barry Penner, Q.C. Chilliwack-Hope   Elected:  1996, 2001, 2005, 2009 BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBERAL PARTY

E-mail: barry.penner.mla@leg.bc.ca Web site: www.barrypenner.com
Office: East Annex Parliament Buildings Victoria, BC V8V 1X4		Constituency: 101 – 7388 Vedder Road Chilliwack, BC V2R 4E4
Phone:	250 356-6171	Phone:	604 858-6202
Fax:	250 387-9066	Fax:	604 858-6254
		Toll free:	1 866 553-5537

Barry Penner was re-elected to the riding of Chilliwack-Hope in May 2009. He previously served as Attorney General.

He was first elected to represent Chilliwack in 1996, and was re-elected in the renamed riding of Chilliwack-Kent in 2001 and 2005.

Mr. Penner was appointed Minister of Environment in June, 2005 and fulfilled this role until October, 2010. He was the longest serving Environment Minister in BC history, and by late 2009 was the longest serving Environment Minister in Canada.

Mr. Penner was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation in October 2010, serving in this role until mid-March, 2011.

Barry was raised in Chilliwack. He studied political science and economics at Simon Fraser University to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree. He later earned his law degree from the University of Victoria. A former park ranger and sawmill worker, Barry also worked as a B.C. Legislative intern in Victoria. In 1991, he worked for an International law firm in Bangkok, Thailand and then later practiced law in Chilliwack until his election in 1996.
Barry was appointed by Premier Campbell as the co-chair of B.C.’s Alternative Energy and Power Technology Task Force in April 2005. He is keenly interested in renewable energy and conservation technologies.

Barry previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader, as Chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources, and was a member of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.

Barry has also chaired the Legislature’s Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills, and served as a member of the Legislature's Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, and the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Review.

Premier Campbell appointed Barry in 2001 to lead BC's delegation to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER). He served as President of PNWER from June 2002 to July 2003 and remains active in PNWER issues.

Barry represents and lives in the electoral district of Chilliwack-Hope.