BACKGROUNDER 2006OTP0134-001042 Office of the Premier Aug. 15, 2006

HON. MICHAEL de JONG MINISTER OF ABORIGINAL RELATIONS AND RECONCILIATION

Michael de Jong was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation on Aug. 15, 2006.

He is also Government House Leader.

Mr. de Jong has previously served as Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services and Minister of Forests. Prior to that, he was deputy house leader for the Official Opposition and served as a critic for a variety of portfolios.

Mr. de Jong was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in a 1994 byelection to represent the electoral district of Matsqui. He was re-elected in 1996 and again in 2001 to the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman, where he was again re-elected in 2005.

Before his election, Mr. de Jong practised as a lawyer in his Abbotsford firm. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Carleton University in Ottawa and a law degree from the University of Alberta.

HON. TOM CHRISTENSEN MINISTER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

Tom Christensen was appointed Minister of Children and Family Development on Aug. 15, 2006.

He previously served as Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Minister of Education.

Mr. Christensen was elected to represent the riding of Okanagan-Vernon in 2001 and re-elected in 2005.

He currently serves as chair of the Cabinet Legislative Review Committee and as a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and the Economy.

Mr. Christensen graduated from the University of Victoria with a law degree in 1994, and was called to the B.C. bar in May 1995. Prior to entering politics, he practiced law at Davidson & Company and was a partner in the firm from 1999 to 2001.

Mr. Christensen was born and raised in Vernon, the fourth generation of his family to raise a family in the Vernon area. He has been involved in a number of community organizations, having held such positions as president of the Downtown Vernon Association, director of the Vernon Winter Carnival and chairperson of Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation's Annual Light-a-Bulb Fundraising Campaign.

Mr. Christensen is married and has three young children.

- 2 - HON. MINISTER OF LABOUR AND CITIZENS’ SERVICES

Olga Ilich was appointed Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services on Aug. 15, 2006.

She previously served as Minister of Tourism, Sports and the Arts.

Ms. Ilich was elected in the riding of Richmond Centre in 2005.

Prior to being elected to the Legislative Assembly, she served as president of Suncor Development Corporation, a real estate development and construction company based in Richmond. Before owning her own business, Ms. Ilich was the executive vice-president of Progressive Construction Ltd, a company also based in Richmond.

Ms. Ilich was born in Holland and has lived in Richmond since 1959. She holds a master of business administration from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a master of arts from the University of Manitoba and a bachelor of arts from the University of British Columbia.

Ms. Ilich has been involved in a number of community, professional and business organizations. She has served as chair of the BC Assessment Authority, director of UBC Properties Investment Ltd, director of the Vancouver International Airport Authority, member of the City of Richmond Advisory Design Panel, and president of the Urban Development Institute, Pacific Region.

Ms. Ilich has also served with the City of Surrey Development Advisory Committee, B.C.’s Advisory Committee on Public-Private Partnerships, B.C.’s Task Force on Public-Private Partnerships, the Federal Business Development Bank’s Regional Advisory Council, the City of Richmond Advisory Planning Commission, St. Georges's School, and the Diane Farris Gallery.

Ms. Ilich has two grown sons who are currently at university.

HON. STAN HAGEN MINISTER OF TOURISM, SPORT AND THE ARTS

Stan Hagen was appointed Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts on Aug. 15, 2006.

Mr. Hagen had previously served as Minister of Children and Family Development, Minister of Human Resources and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.

First elected in 1986, he represented the riding of Comox until 1991. He returned to politics in 2001 and was re-elected in the riding of Comox Valley, where he was re-elected again in 2005.

Through his political career, Mr. Hagen has also served as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries; Advanced Education, Job Training, Science and Technology; Regional and Economic Development; Education and Minister of State for the Vancouver Island/Coast Region. He chaired the Canadian Council of Ministers of Education and was a member of six cabinet committees. Mr. Hagen was instrumental in the creation of Science World and introduced the Scientist in the Classroom program. The Passport to Education program, which still runs today, was also introduced under Mr. Hagen’s tenure.

He is the recipient of a honourary doctor of laws degree from Simon Fraser University.

Mr. Hagen has been a resident of the Comox Valley since 1968. He worked in the construction industry as a comptroller and later started an independent ready-mix company. Prior to his re-election in 2001, he was the general manager of a local paving company. - 3 -

Mr. Hagen was a board member and fundraiser for the Courtenay Youth Music Camp; co-ordinator for Big Brothers in the Comox Valley and founding president of the Comox Valley Community Foundation. He was the west coast regional chair of the Salmon Enhancement Project; treasurer of Comox Valley Chamber of Commerce and served as a Comox Valley School board chair and trustee from 1972-1978.

Stan and Judy Hagen still live in Courtenay and have five children.

GORDON HOGG MINISTER OF STATE FOR ACTNOW BC

Gordon Hogg was appointed Minister of State for ActNow BC on Aug. 15, 2006.

He has previously served as Minister of Children and Family Development.

Mr. Hogg also served as Chair of the Government Caucus and was a member of the Legislative Assembly Management Committee. He was also the Chair of the Seniors Caucus Committee, served on the Government Caucus Committee on Health as well as the Select Standing Committees on Health and Social Services, Justice, Constitutional Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations.

Previously, Mr. Hogg served as the Official Opposition Critic for Education and Human Resources and was also a member of the Official Opposition Caucus Committees on Health and Education.

Mr. Hogg was a counsellor, probation officer and regional director for corrections prior to his election to the Legislative Assembly. He received his bachelor of arts in sociology and psychology from the University of British Columbia and his master’s degree in psychology from Antioch College.

Mr. Hogg served on White Rock council for 20 years, for 10 of which he was mayor. He has been a board member of more than 15 committees and non-profit societies including the Peace Arch Community Health Council and Peace Arch District Hospital. He has also been a foster parent and little league coach.

Gordon and his wife, LaVerne live in White Rock and have one son.

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Media Jason Keenan contact: Office of the Premier 250 889-4024

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