Mike de Jong is British Columbia's Attorney General and Government House Leader. Previously, he has held the post of Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. He was the British Columbia Liberal Party MLA for the riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman, a city in the Fraser Valley. He sought re-election in the newly-created riding of Abbotsford West during the 2009 general election, and won.
He previously served as Minister of Labour and Citizen Services, and as Minister of Forests. While in the Official Opposition between 1994 and 2001, de Jong became known for his blistering attacks on the New Democratic Party government.
De Jong was first elected to the British Columbia legislature in a 1994 by-election for the riding of Matsqui [1]. He defeated British Columbia Social Credit Party Leader Grace McCarthy who was attempting to rebuild that political party. Shortly after, McCarthy resigned as Social Credit Party Leader and the party failed to elect any members in the subsequent provincial election in 1996.
De Jong was re-elected in 1996, 2001, in 2005 in the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman, and in the newly created riding of Abbotsford West during in 2009.
Before his election, de Jong was a lawyer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University in Ottawa and a law degree from the University of Alberta.
External links
- Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation web site
- New Relationship with Aboriginal People
- Mike de Jong MLA web site
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