Home > Previous Parliaments > 37th Parliament, 6th Session > Members > Member Biography

37th Parliament Members
at dissolution on April 19, 2005

Photo of MLA

MLA: Barry Penner 

Chilliwack-Kent


Elected:  1996, 2001

BRITISH COLUMBIA LIBERAL PARTY

Barry Penner was raised in Chilliwack, BC. He studied government and economics at Simon Fraser University to earn his Bachelor of Arts degree. He later earned his law degree from the University of Victoria. A former park ranger and sawmill worker, Barry also worked as a BC Legislative intern in Victoria. In 1991, he worked for an International law firm in Bangkok, Thailand and then practiced law in Chilliwack until his election in 1996.

Barry was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Government House Leader in February, 2004. He previously served as Chair of the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and remains a member of the Legislature's Standing Committee on Crown Corporations.

He also is a member of the Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct and Private Bills and the Legislature's Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. Also requiring considerable amount of his time is Barry's involvement as a member of the Cabinet Committee for Legislative Review.

Premier Campbell appointed Barry in 2001 to lead BC's delegation to the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER). He served as President of PNWER from June 2002 to July 2003 and remains active in PNWER issues.

Barry represents and lives in the electoral district of Chilliwack-Kent.