37th Parliament Members
at dissolution on April 19, 2005

MLA: Hon. Ida Chong  Oak Bay-Gordon Head Minister of Advanced Education Elected: 1996, 2001 BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBERAL PARTY

Ida Chong was appointed Minister of Advanced Education on December 15, 2004. Ida previously acted as Minister of State for Women's and Seniors' Services from January 26 through December 14, 2004.

Ms. Chong was first elected in 1996 in the riding of Oak Bay-Gordon Head, and was re-elected in 2001.

She served as the Official Opposition critic for small business, tourism and culture, the deputy critic of finance, the deputy critic for women's equality and chair of the Official Opposition Committee on the Economy.

Since the 2001 election, Ms. Chong has served on Treasury Board, the Select Standing Committee on Crown Corporations, the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, and as chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Economy and Government Operations. She also sits with her colleagues on the Women's Caucus Committee and the Vancouver Island Coastal Caucus. She has also been a member of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts, the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, and the Special Committee on the Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform.

Ms. Chong first entered political life as a municipal councillor for the District of Saanich in 1993 after having volunteered for several not-for-profit groups.

Ms. Chong has won several awards for her work as a Certified General Accountant, including the J.M. MacBeth Award for service at a chapter level, and the Harold Clarke Award for service on a provincial committee. More recently in 1999, she was awarded the CGA Community Service Award.

Ida Chong is a native of Victoria and was raised in Gordon Head.