Harry Lali served as Minister of Transportation and Highways from February 1998 to February 2001. He was the longest serving Highways Minister in the New Democrat Government. Previously, he served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Forests from June 1996 to February 1998.

He was first elected to the Legislative Assembly to represent the constituency of Yale-Lillooet in 1991 and was re-elected in 1996.

Harry was born in Jullundur, Punjab, and currently lives in Merritt. He was educated at the University of Victoria and the University of British Columbia, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and South Asian Studies. He is the founder of the group which established a chair of Punjabi and Sikh Studies at the University of British Columbia.

Before his election to the Legislature, Harry was an employment counsellor for the federally-sponsored Merritt Outreach Program, starting in 1986. He has also worked at MOSAIC in Vancouver. He spent 11 summers working in the sawmill industry and three years as a retail business person.

Harry served two years as a Councillor for the City of Merritt. His other community involvements included membership in the Lions Club, the Merritt Recreation Commission and the Merritt Aquatic Facilities Committee.

Harry and Rani Lali have two children, a son, Ajhmair and a daughter, Suman.