Canadian politician
Blair Lekstrom
In office May 16, 2001 – May 14, 2013Preceded by Jack Weisgerber Succeeded by Mike Bernier In office June 23, 2008 – January 19, 2009Premier Gordon Campbell Preceded by Ida Chong (Community Services)Succeeded by Kevin Krueger In office January 19, 2009 – June 11, 2010Premier Gordon Campbell Preceded by Richard Neufeld Succeeded by Bill Bennett In office March 14, 2011 – September 5, 2012Premier Christy Clark Preceded by Shirley Bond Succeeded by Mary Polak In office 1996–2001Preceded by Bill Kusk Succeeded by Wayne Dahlen
Born 1961 (age 62–63)[ 1] North Battleford , Saskatchewan Political party Liberal (2001-2010, 2011-present)Other political affiliations Independent (2010-2011)Spouse
Vicki Lekstrom
(
m. 1982)
Residence(s) Dawson Creek , British Columbia
Blair Lekstrom (born 1961) is a Canadian politician. He was formerly a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia , representing the riding of Peace River South from 2001 to 2013. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party , he served in several cabinet posts under premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark . He was the mayor of Dawson Creek from 1996 to 2001, and served as city councillor on two separate occasions.
Biography
Lekstrom was born in 1961 in North Battleford , Saskatchewan and moved to Dawson Creek , British Columbia later that year.[ 1] [ 2] He graduated from South Peace Secondary School , and worked with BC Tel starting in 1979 as an installer-repairman.[ 2] He married his wife Vicki in 1982; they have two children together.[ 1] [ 2]
He was elected to Dawson Creek City Council in 1993, serving one term as councillor.[ 3] [ 4] He then won election as the city's mayor in 1996 and served in that role for two terms.[ 4] [ 5] During that time, he was the president of the North Central Municipal Association for the 1999–2000 term.[ 1] [ 2]
He ran as a BC Liberal candidate in the 2001 provincial election , and was elected member of the legislative assembly (MLA) for the riding of Peace River South .[ 6] He was re-elected in 2005 , and was appointed to the cabinet by Premier Gordon Campbell in June 2008 to serve as Minister of Community Development, before being re-assigned as Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources in January 2009.[ 7] He kept that portfolio after securing another term as MLA at the 2009 provincial election .[ 6] [ 7]
Lekstrom resigned from the BC Liberal caucus on June 11, 2010 over the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax ,[ 8] a policy that he had previously endorsed.[ 4] Following the election of Christy Clark as the party's new leader in 2011 , Lekstrom rejoined the Liberals on March 3 that year,[ 9] and was appointed to Clark's cabinet as Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure on March 14.[ 10] He announced on September 4, 2012 that he would not run again in the 2013 provincial election ,[ 11] and was dropped from Clark's cabinet the next day.[ 10] [ 12]
After finishing his term as MLA, he was hired by HD Mining International, Ltd. in September 2013 as an advisor and spokesperson.[ 13] He then returned to municipal politics by winning election as Dawson Creek city councillor in 2018 ,[ 3] before resigning in February 2020 to become the city's Chief Administrative Officer;[ 14] he retired from that role in December 2022.[ 4]
References
^ a b c d "Lekstrom, Blair (Peace River South)" . Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ a b c d "MLA: Blair Lekstrom" . Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ a b "History of City of Dawson Creek Mayor and Council (previously Commissioners/Aldermen)" (PDF) . City of Dawson Creek. Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ a b c d Dornian, Katherine (December 9, 2022). "After nearly 30 years of public service, Blair Lekstrom reflects on retirement and a distinguished career" . CJDC-TV . Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ Meissner, Dirk (June 30, 2009). "B.C. looks to carbon capture to balance clean-air targets with energy revenues" . Coast Reporter . Canadian Press. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011.
^ a b "MLA: Blair Lekstrom" . Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 11, 2010 .
^ a b "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF) . Legislative Assembly of British Columbia . Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ "B.C. cabinet minister Lekstrom quits over HST" . CBC News . December 9, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ Austin, Ian (March 3, 2011). "Lekstrom back, Bennett cools heels" . The Province . Archived from the original on March 9, 2011.
^ a b "Christy Clark Cabinet 2011-2017" (PDF) . Legislative Library of British Columbia. January 24, 2018. Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ Cole, Yolande (September 4, 2012). "Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom joins list of departing B.C. Liberal MLAs" . The Georgia Straight . Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ "B.C. Premier Christy Clark unveils new cabinet" . CBC News . September 5, 2012. Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ "Former B.C. mines minister Blair Lekstrom takes job with controversial coal firm" . Global News . Canadian Press . September 25, 2013. Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
^ Dornian, Katherine (June 15, 2022). "Dawson Creek CAO Blair Lekstrom to retire this year" . CJDC-TV . Retrieved April 22, 2024 .
External links