- Richard Neufeld
Richard Neufeld is a
Canadian politician and a member of the BC Liberal party. He has been an MLA since 1991 and currently serves as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.Neufeld was first elected to the Provincial Legislative Assembly in the 1991 B.C. general election. He won the
Peace River North riding as a member of the Social Credit party. He received 5,758 votes (54.79% of total valid votes) in a field of five candidates. Neufeld defected to the BC Reform party following the electoral collapse of the SoCreds.In the 1996 B.C. general election Neufeld was re-elected in the Peace River North riding as a member of the BC Reform party. He received 5,299 votes (48.41% of total valid votes) in a field of six candidates. BC Reform party was blamed for splitting the right-wing vote, and lost official party status after losing two of their four seats held prior to the 1996 election. Following a conflict with then BC Reform leader Wilf Hanni, Neufeld again switched parties. In October 1997 he joined the BC Liberal party. During this time in the Official Opposition he served as energy, mines and northern development critic.
In the 2001 B.C. general election Neufeld was again re-elected in the Peace River North riding as the BC Liberal candidate. He received 6,629 votes (73.22% of total valid votes) in a field of four candidates. Neufeld was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines on
June 5 2001 by PremierGordon Campbell .In his position as Minister, Neufeld has been at the centre of the fray regarding the "re-regulation" of
BC Hydro , which involves privatization of some of thatCrown corporation . Neufeld has also advocated the increased use of coal power, and has promoted allowing a scientific review of offshore oil and gas. His term as Minister of Energy and Mines has been marked by significant growth in the oil and gas, andmining sectors.In the 2005 B.C. general election Neufeld was again re-elected in the Peace River North riding as the BC Liberal candidate. He received 5,498 votes (59.37% of total valid votes) in a field of four candidates. Neufeld was re-appointed Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on
June 16 2005 by Premier Gordon Campbell.Neufeld served on the Fort Nelson city council from 1978 to 1986, five of those years as mayor. He lives in Fort St. John.
External links
* [http://www.richardneufeldmla.bc.ca/templates/index.php Official Website]
* [http://www.gov.bc.ca/bvprd/bc/content.do?brwId=%4020YWp%7C0YQtuW&navId=NAV_ID_-8383 Provincial biography page]
* [http://www.em.gov.bc.ca Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources]
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