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Richard Neufeld

The Honourable
Richard Neufeld
Senator from British Columbia
Assumed office
January 2, 2009
Nominated by Stephen Harper
Appointed by Michaëlle Jean
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Peace River North
In office
October 17, 1991 – December 22, 2008
Preceded by Tony Brummet
Succeeded by Pat Pimm
Minister of Energy and Mines of British Columbia
In office
June 5, 2001 – June 16, 2005
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Glenn Robertson
Succeeded by Richard Neufeld
Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of British Columbia
In office
June 16, 2005 – January 19, 2009
Premier Gordon Campbell
Preceded by Richard Neufeld
Succeeded by Blair Lekstrom
Personal details
Born (1944-11-06) November 6, 1944 (age 72)
Lethbridge, Alberta
Political party Conservative
Other political
affiliations
British Columbia Social Credit Party (1991-1994)
Reform Party of British Columbia (1994-1997)
British Columbia Liberal Party (1997-2008)

Richard Neufeld (born November 6, 1944) 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.


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