Patrick Bell (born March 17, 1957) is a former Canadian politician.[2] He was a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing Prince George North from 2001 to 2009, and Prince George-Mackenzie from 2009 to 2013. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in several cabinet posts under premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark.
Pat Bell | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Prince George-Mackenzie Prince George North (2001-2009) | |
| In office May 16, 2001 – May 14, 2013 | |
| Preceded by | Paul Ramsey |
| Succeeded by | Mike Morris |
| Minister of State for Mining of British Columbia | |
| In office January 26, 2004 – June 16, 2005 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | Bill Bennett |
| Minister of Agriculture and Lands of British Columbia | |
| In office June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Preceded by | John van Dongen |
| Succeeded by | Stan Hagen |
| Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands of British Columbia Minister of Forests and Range (2008-2010) | |
| In office June 23, 2008 – March 14, 2011 | |
| Premier | Gordon Campbell |
| Preceded by | Rich Coleman |
| Succeeded by | Steve Thomson (Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations) Rich Coleman (Energy and Mines) |
| Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training of British Columbia Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation (2011-2012) | |
| In office March 14, 2011 – June 10, 2013 | |
| Premier | Christy Clark |
| Preceded by | Margaret MacDiarmid (Tourism, Trade and Investment) |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Bond |
| Minister Responsible for Labour of British Columbia | |
| In office September 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013 | |
| Premier | Christy Clark |
| Preceded by | Margaret MacDiarmid (Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government) |
| Succeeded by | Shirley Bond |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 17, 1957 Vancouver, British Columbia[1] |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse |
Brenda Lapp (m. 1978) |
| Residence | Prince George, British Columbia |
Biography edit
Born in Vancouver, Bell graduated from Lord Byng Secondary School in 1975 before attending the University of British Columbia.[1][3] He married Brenda Lapp in 1978, with whom he has three children.[1][3] A resident of Prince George since 1988, he owned two Wendy's restaurants in the city and a trucking company, and was the co-owner of a logging company.[3]
He ran as a candidate for the British Columbia Liberal Party in the 2001 provincial election, and was elected Member of the Legislative Assembly for Prince George North.[3] He was appointed to the cabinet by Premier Gordon Campbell in January 2004 to serve as Minister of State for Mining.[4] Following his re-election in 2005, he was named Minister of Agriculture and Lands, before being re-assigned as Minister of Forests and Range in June 2008.[4]
He was re-elected MLA in 2009 in the newly established riding of Prince George-Mackenzie and retained his cabinet post, which expanded in scope in October 2010 as he became Minister of Forests, Mines and Lands.[4][5] After Christy Clark took over as premier in March 2011, Bell was named Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation.[6][7] His post was re-titled Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training in September 2012, and he simultaneously took on the role of Minister Responsible for Labour.[6]
On February 17, 2013, Bell announced that due to health problems (an aneurysm), he would not stand for re-election that May.[8] In 2015 he and his son Doug opened a fruit winery called Northern Lights Estate Winery in Prince George.[9]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Bell, Hon. Patrick W. (Prince George North) Minister of State for Mining". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "B.C. lumber exports to China jump". Postmedia News. October 19, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
- ^ a b c d "38th Parliament Members at dissolution on April 14, 2009: MLA: Hon. Patrick Bell". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Campbell rolls out new B.C. cabinet". CBC News. October 25, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ a b "Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. January 24, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Shaw, Rob. "Christy Clark sworn in as B.C. premier". Nanaimo Daily News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2012. Retrieved March 14, 2011.
- ^ "B.C. minister Pat Bell's health forces him to quit politics". CBC News. February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Dimoff, Anna (August 2, 2016). "Northern Lights Estate Winery celebrates 1st year of business". CBC News. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
External links edit
- Pat Bell, MLA (copy archived July 19, 2011)
- Northern Lights Estate Winery