Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett is returning to his first B.C. Government executive council post as Minister of Energy and Mines and Minister Responsible for Core Review, following today’s unveiling of Premier Christy Clark’s first cabinet.

Bennett was recently re-elected to a fourth term as MLA for Kootenay East.

His most recent cabinet post was as Minister for Community Sport and Cultural Development and he previously served as: Minister for Community Sport and Cultural Development; Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources; Minister of Community and Rural Development; Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts; and Minister of State for Mining, his first cabinet post from June 16, 2005 – February 7, 2007.

Bennett has chaired the BC Legislative Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services, and chaired the BC Legislative Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides. He has been a member of various legislative committees and government committees, particularly focused on land use and natural resource issues.

Before being elected, Bennett was a partner in a law firm in Cranbrook.

He also owned and operated fly-in wilderness fishing and hunting lodges in the Northwest Territories and Manitoba.

In a Premier’s Office press release, Bennett’s cabinet responsibilities will include:

Grow the clean energy sector and meet the commitments in the BC Jobs Plan to grow our mining industry;

Work to minimize rate increases at BC Hydro, and continue the development of Site C and other major new sources of energy to power B.C.’s growing economy and LNG industry; Identify savings and efficiencies as part of a core review of government, and make recommendations to Cabinet on how to improve B.C.’s regulatory reform and red tape reduction.

Lead photo in part from: minefo.com

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