Helmut Giesbrecht was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries in November 2000.

Previously, Helmut served as the Minister Responsible for the Public Service from July 1999 until February 2000. Before that, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health from February 1998 to July 1999. He was also Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture from June 1996 to February 1998.

Helmut was first elected to the Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Skeena in 1991 and was re-elected in 1996.

Helmut holds a baccalaureate of education from the University of British Columbia and taught at Skeena Junior Secondary School in Terrace for 24 years. He was elected to Terrace Municipal Council in 1976 and served as mayor from 1981 to 1985. Helmut represented the Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine on the Northern Development Council and represented the district on the Municipal Finance Authority. In addition, he also served on the board of the Skeena Health Unit.

Before being elected to the Legislative Assembly, Helmut was on the executive of the Terrace District's Teachers Union and on the Board of Directors of the Terrace and District Credit Union. He also served two years as president of the Terrace District Teachers' Association.

Helmut and Wendy Giesbrecht reside in Terrace and have two children.