Mike Farnworth is a New Democratic Party

New Democratic Party

The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...

 politician from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

. He is the current MLA

Member of the Legislative Assembly

A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....

 for the riding of Port Coquitlam.

Farnworth was originally elected in 1991

British Columbia general election, 1991

The British Columbia general election of 1991 was the 35th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on September 19, 1991, and held on October 17, 1991...

, after serving three terms on Port Coquitlam's city council. He was re-elected in 1996

British Columbia general election, 1996

The British Columbia general election of 1996 was the thirty sixth provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 30, 1996, and held on May 28, 1996...

, but lost in the party's province-wide wipeout of 2001

British Columbia general election, 2001

The British Columbia general election of 2001 was the 37th provincial election in the Province of British Columbia, Canada. It was held to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. The election was called on April 18, 2001, and held on May 16, 2001...

. Between 1997 and 2001, He served as Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing (1997-98), Minister of Employment and Investment and Minister Responsible for Housing (1998-2000), Minister of Health and Minister Responsible for Seniors (2000), and Minister Social Development and Economic Security (2000-01).

In 2005 B.C. general election

British Columbia general election, 2005

The 38th British Columbia general election was held on May 17, 2005, to elect members of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia , Canada. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...

, Farnworth was the NDP candidate in the riding of Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain

Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain

Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain was a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada from 2001 to 2009.- Demographics :-1999 Redistribution:...

. He won the riding with 11,844 votes (48.14% of valid votes). In 2009

British Columbia general election, 2009

The 39th British Columbia general election was held on May 12, 2009 to elect members of the Legislative Assembly in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The BC Liberal Party formed the government of the province prior to this general election under the leadership of Premier Gordon Campbell...

, Farnworth was re-elected to his fourth term with 54.64% of valid votes.

Farnworth is currently the MLA for Port Coquitlam and the NDP Critic for Health. He previously served as Economic Development Critic, Critic for Public Safety and Solicitor General Official and Opposition House Leader.

Farnworth is considered a moderate within the BC NDP.

Farnworth ran in the leadership race to replace retiring leader Carole James

Carole James

Carole Alison James, MLA is a Canadian politician and former public administrator. She is the former Leader of the Opposition in British Columbia and former leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party , a social democratic political party...

. He was narrowly defeated by Adrian Dix

Adrian Dix

Adrian Dix is a Canadian politician, currently serving as MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway in British Columbia and as leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2005 election.-Aide to Glen Clark:...

.