The Honourable Gordon Campbell

Premier of British Columbia

Gordon Campbell is British Columbia's 34th premier, sworn into office on June 5, 2001 with the largest majority in B.C. history.

Premier Campbell's government inherited a provincial economy that had gone from being among the leading economies in Canada to one of the worst; a provincial budget that faced a long-term structural deficit; and a province that tens of thousands of people were leaving.

Premier Campbell laid out a comprehensive plan to revive the economy, balance the budget and bring people, jobs and investment back to B.C. As a result of that plan, B.C. is now back as one of Canada's strongest economies with the best job creation record in the country. In February, his government introduced its second consecutive balanced budget that included a near-record surplus, additional tax relief for individuals and business, and the largest debt pay-down in B.C. history. In 2004, Premier Campbell was recognized as Man of the Year by the B.C. and Yukon Hotels Association for his commitment to fiscal responsibility and revitalizing the B.C. economy.

With the 2005 throne speech and budget, Premier Campbell has now set out a bold vision for a golden decade of continued growth and opportunity with more jobs, more investment and new hope for the future. A critical part of that vision is a new Asia-Pacific Gateway Strategy that will see B.C. forge new relationships and open up B.C.'s transportation, business and cultural links to some of the fastest growing markets in the world. His vision for the Asia-Pacific will strengthen B.C.'s role as Canada's Pacific Gateway, benefiting not just the province but also the entire country for generations to come.

Premier Campbell previously served as mayor of Vancouver for three terms, from 1986 to 1993. Throughout his time in office, Mr. Campbell has shown himself to be a leader who delivers results. He is a reformer who believes in the power of ideas to strengthen our public institutions. Perhaps his government's boldest reform initiative was the creation of a Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform, where citizens drawn from all walks of life were brought together to make recommendations on changing British Columbia's electoral system. That recommendation will be put to the people of British Columbia in a referendum to be conducted this May.

Gordon Campbell is married to his wife of 34 years, Nancy. She is a vice-principal in the Vancouver School District. They have two grown sons, Geoffrey and Nicholas. Mr. Campbell was born in Vancouver. He has a B.A. in English from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and received his MBA from Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.