Member Biography

37th Parliament Members
at dissolution on April 19, 2005

Photo of MLA

MLA: Walt Cobb 

Cariboo South


Elected: 2001

BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBERAL PARTY

Walt Cobb was elected as the MLA for Cariboo South in the provincial general election in 2001. He currently serves on the Legislative Assembly's Select Standing Committee on Health, the Government Caucus Committee on Communities and Safety, the Cabinet Committee on Legislative Review and is Caucus Liaison to the Minister of State for Community Charter and the Olympics. He is also a member of the Northern Caucus Committee, the Land Use Planning Committee, the BC Task Force on Mining, and the Small-Scale Salvage Review Committee. Previously, Walt served as Chair for the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources, and was a member of the Legislative Assembly's Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders & Private Bills.

Before becoming an MLA, Walt was a small business owner who served the City of Williams Lake for ten years as a councillor and for six years as mayor. Following graduation, Walt worked for Super Value as produce manager until 1965 and then transferred to Kelly Douglas' wholesale division where he worked in the same position. In 1969 Walt started his own retail business, which he continued to own and operate until 1990, and in 1996 he started a small construction company which he still owns and operates today. In 1980 Walt was elected to the City of Williams Lake council, serving until 1990, and was elected mayor in 1990 and again in 1993.

Some of his many past committee activities include: Williams Lake Go Bus Society treasurer (1998-2001); Share Our Resources director (1998-2001); Williams Lake Society for People in Motion vice-president (1986-2001); Williams Lake & District Chamber of Commerce president (1980s) and vice-president (1999-2000); Scouts Canada Beaver and Cub leader (1976-1979); and, Navy League vice-president (2000-2001).

Walt was also involved in many regional groups, including: Cariboo Regional District member of the Commission on Resources and the Environment representing the City of Williams Lake, Quesnel, 100 Mile House and the Cariboo Regional District (1992-1995); Cariboo Communities Coalition chair (1994-1995); and, Cariboo Communities Coalition public relations chair (1999). From 1998-2001 Walt served as the Cariboo-Chilcotin-Coast Wood Products Association executive director.

Born in 1944 in Manitoba , Walt moved to the Cariboo in 1954. He and Lynnette, who married in 1965, have two children and three grandchildren. Walt enjoys travelling, horseback riding and other horse-related activities, including using his horse-drawn buggy and sleigh.