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 byPaul Ramsey
Succeeded byMike Morris
Minister of State for Mining of British Columbia
In office
January 26, 2004 – June 16, 2005
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byposition established
Succeeded byBill Bennett
Minister of Agriculture and Lands of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – June 23, 2008
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byJohn van Dongen
Succeeded byStan 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
PremierGordon Campbell
Preceded byRich Coleman
Succeeded bySteve 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
PremierChristy Clark
Preceded byMargaret MacDiarmid (Tourism, Trade and Investment)
Succeeded byShirley Bond
Minister Responsible for Labour of British Columbia
In office
September 5, 2012 – June 10, 2013
PremierChristy Clark
Preceded byMargaret MacDiarmid (Labour, Citizens' Services and Open Government)
Succeeded byShirley Bond
Personal details
Born (1957-03-17) March 17, 1957 (age 67)
Vancouver, British Columbia[1]
Political partyLiberal
Spouse
Brenda Lapp
(m. 1978)
ResidencePrince George, British Columbia

Biography

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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

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  1. ^ a b c "Bell, Hon. Patrick W. (Prince George North) Minister of State for Mining". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  2. ^ "B.C. lumber exports to China jump". Postmedia News. October 19, 2010. Archived from the original on August 17, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2012.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "Campbell rolls out new B.C. cabinet". CBC News. October 25, 2010. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017" (PDF). Legislative Library of British Columbia. January 24, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "B.C. minister Pat Bell's health forces him to quit politics". CBC News. February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. ^ Dimoff, Anna (August 2, 2016). "Northern Lights Estate Winery celebrates 1st year of business". CBC News. Retrieved March 26, 2022.
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