Ed Conroy was appointed Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and Minister Responsible for Rural Development on November 1, 2000.

He previously served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transportation and Highways. Mr. Conroy was Government Caucus Chair from March 2000 to November 2000 and also served in that role from June 1996 to October 1997.

Mr. Conroy was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in 1991 and was re-elected in 1996. He represents the riding of Rossland-Trail.

Before his election, Mr. Conroy was a towboat worker with Pope and Talbot. He also breeds purebred cattle.

Born in Rossland, Mr. Conroy was raised in Castlegar and attended Selkirk College in Castlegar and the University of Victoria, where he majored in political science and philosophy.

He is a former Castlegar school trustee and school board vice-chair. He was a member of the local BC Hydro impact committee for hydro development, the city's Celgar expansion advisory committee and the Columbia Basin Trust board of directors.

Ed and Katrine Conroy live in Pass Creek and have four children.