Blair Lekstrom (born 1961) is a Canadian politician, formerly a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. He represented the riding of Peace River South having been first elected in the 2001 election.[1] Re-elected in 2005 and 2009, he did not run in the 2013 provincial election.[2] He worked as an advisor and spokesperson for HD Mining International, Ltd.[3] and was elected as city councillor in Dawson Creek in 2008. In February, 2020, Lekstrom resigned as councillor to take on the role of Chief Administrative Officer for the city of Dawson Creek.[4]
Blair Lekstrom | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Peace River South | |
| In office May 16, 2001 – May 14, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Jack Weisgerber |
| Succeeded by | Mike Bernier |
| Minister of Community Development of British Columbia | |
| In office June 23, 2008 – January 19, 2009 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Preceded by | Ida Chong |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Krueger |
| Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of British Columbia | |
| In office January 19, 2009 – June 11, 2010 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Preceded by | Richard Neufeld |
| Succeeded by | Bill Bennett |
| Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure of British Columbia | |
| In office March 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012 | |
| Premier | Christy Clark |
| Preceded by | Shirley Bond |
| Succeeded by | Mary Polak |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1961 North Battleford, Saskatchewan |
| Political party | Liberal (2001-2010, 2011-present) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent (2010-2011) |
Early life and education edit
He was born in 1961 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan and moved to Dawson Creek, British Columbia later that year. He graduated from the South Peace Secondary School, and worked with BC Tel starting in 1979 as an installer-repairman until his election in 2001.
Political career edit
Prior to provincial politics, he served as mayor of Dawson Creek for two terms,[5] and was a city councillor for three years prior.[1] Lekstrom was the president of the North Central Municipal Association for the 1999–2000 term.
He formerly served as the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Products in the government of Gordon Campbell, before resigning from the BC Liberal caucus over the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on June 11, 2010, a policy that Lekstrom had previously endorsed.[6] Following the election of Christy Clark as the party's new leader in the 2011 leadership election, Lekstrom rejoined the Liberals on March 3, 2011.[7] Lekstrom announced in September 2012 that he would not run for office in the 2013 provincial election.[8]
In September 2013, he was hired by HD Mining International, Ltd.[9]
References edit
- ^ a b "MLA: Blair Lekstrom". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
- ^ "Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom joins list of departing B.C. Liberal MLAs". The Georgia Straight. September 4, 2012.
- ^ "Who’s mining whom?" "Resource Clips", May 8, 2014.
- ^ "Media Release: Appointment of New Chief Administrative Officer | City of Dawson Creek".
- ^ Meissner, Dirk (June 30, 2009). "B.C. looks to carbon capture to balance clean-air targets with energy revenues". Coast Reporter. Canadian Press. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011.
- ^ "B.C. Liberal resigns over HST". The Globe and Mail, June 11, 2010.
- ^ "Lekstrom back, Bennett cools heels" Archived March 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. The Province, March 3, 2011.
- ^ "Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom joins list of departing B.C. Liberal MLAs", September 4, 2012.
- ^ "Former B.C. mines minister Blair Lekstrom takes job with controversial coal firm". Canadian Press, September 25, 2013.