Richard Neufeld
Encyclopedia
Richard Neufeld is a Canadian Senator for British Columbia
. Before his appointment to the Senate, he was a British Columbia Liberal Party
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
from 1991 to 2008, serving as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in the cabinet of Gordon Campbell.
Neufeld was first elected to the 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 BC 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 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 Premier Gordon Campbell.
In his position as Minister, Neufeld was at the centre of the fray regarding the "re-regulation" of BC Hydro
, which involves privatization of some of that Crown 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 was marked by significant growth in the oil and gas, and mining sectors.
In the 2005 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
.
On December 22, 2008, it was announced that Neufeld would be appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper
. He assumed office on January 2, 2009.
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...
. Before his appointment to the Senate, he was a British Columbia Liberal Party
British Columbia Liberal Party
The British Columbia Liberal Party is the governing political party in British Columbia, Canada. First elected for government in 1916, the party went into decline after 1952, with its rump caucus merging with the Social Credit Party for the 1975 election...
Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia is one of two components of the Parliament of British Columbia, the provincial parliament ....
from 1991 to 2008, serving as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in the cabinet of Gordon Campbell.
Neufeld was first elected to the legislative assembly in the 1991 B.C. general election
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...
. He won the Peace River North
Peace River North
Peace River North is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Canada. It was created under the name North Peace River by the Constitution Amendment Act, 1955, which split the old riding of Peace River into northern and southern portions for the 1956 B.C....
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
Reform Party of British Columbia
The Reform Party of British Columbia is a populist right wing political party in British Columbia, Canada. Although its name is similar to the defunct Reform Party of Canada, the provincial party was founded before the federal party was and it did not have any formal association with...
following the electoral collapse of the SoCreds.
In the 1996 BC general election
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...
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 general election
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...
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 Premier Gordon Campbell.
In his position as Minister, Neufeld was at the centre of the fray regarding the "re-regulation" of BC Hydro
BC Hydro
The BC Hydro and Power Authority is a Canadian electric utility in the province of British Columbia generally known simply as BC Hydro. It is the main electric distributor, serving 1.8 million customers in most areas, with the exception of the Kootenay region, where FortisBC, a subsidiary of Fortis...
, which involves privatization of some of that Crown 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 was marked by significant growth in the oil and gas, and mining sectors.
In the 2005 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...
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
Fort Nelson, British Columbia
Fort Nelson is a town of approximately 5000 residents in British Columbia's northeastern corner. It is the administrative centre of the newly formed Northern Rockies Regional Municipality, a first for BC. The majority of Fort Nelson's economic activities have historically been concentrated in the...
city council from 1978 to 1986, five of those years as mayor. He lives in Fort St. John
Fort St. John, British Columbia
The City of Fort St. John is a city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. A member municipality of the Peace River Regional District, the city covers an area of about 22 km² with 22,000 residents . Located at Mile 47, it is one of the largest cities along the Alaska Highway. Originally...
.
On December 22, 2008, it was announced that Neufeld would be appointed to the Canadian Senate on the advice of Prime Minister Stephen Harper
Stephen Harper
Stephen Joseph Harper is the 22nd and current Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Conservative Party. Harper became prime minister when his party formed a minority government after the 2006 federal election...
. He assumed office on January 2, 2009.