38th Parliament Members
at dissolution on April 14, 2009

MLA: Jenny Wai Ching Kwan Vancouver-Mount Pleasant Elected: 1996, 2001, 2005 NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

Jenny Kwan was first elected as the MLA for Vancouver - Mount Pleasant in 1996, becoming one of the first Chinese-Canadians to sit in BC's Legislative Assembly and the first Chinese Canadian Cabinet Minister in the history of B.C. She was re-elected in 2001, and again on May 17, 2005.

Jenny is the Opposition Caucus Chair, and serves as Opposition Critic for Homelessness and Mental Health.

Born in Hong Kong, Jenny Wai Ching Kwan immigrated to Canada with her family when she was nine years old. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) from Simon Fraser University. Jenny began working as a community legal advocate in the Downtown Eastside shortly after graduation.

Jenny was elected to Vancouver City Council in 1993 --becoming the youngest councillor in Vancouver’s history -- and served for three years as the sole representative of Vancouver's progressive municipal political party, COPE.

In 1998 Jenny was appointed Minister of Municipal Affairs, becoming BC's first Chinese-Canadian cabinet minister. Jenny also served as Minister of Women's Equality and Minister of Community Development, Cooperatives and Volunteers and was the provincial government’s lead person in developing the Vancouver Agreement.

Jenny's work in the areas of women's rights, community development, housing and anti-poverty advocacy has earned her a well-deserved reputation as a committed social activist who has made principle her priority.

Jenny is married and lives in East Vancouver with her husband, daughter, son and stepson.