Richard Neufeld
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The Hon. Richard Neufeld, MLA is a Canadian politician and a member of the BC Liberal party. He has been an MLA since 1991.
Neufeld was first elected to the Provincial Legislative Assembly in the 1991 B.C. general election. He won the Peace River North riding as a member of the Social Credit party. He received 5,758 votes (54.79% of total valid votes) in a field of five candidates. Neufeld defected to the BC Reform party following the electoral collapse of the SoCreds.
In the 1996 B.C. general election Neufeld was re-elected in the Peace River North riding as a member of the BC Reform party. He received 5,299 votes (48.41% of total valid votes) in a field of six candidates. After the BC Reform party was blamed for splitting the right-wing vote, and two of their four sitting MLA's failed to retain their seats, Neufeld again switched parties. In October 1997 he joined the conservative BC Liberal party (who are not affiliated with the federal Liberal Party of Canada). During this time in the Official Opposition he served as energy, mines and northern development critic.
In the 2001 B.C. general election Neufeld was again re-elected in the Peace River North riding the BC Liberal candidate. He received 6,629 votes (73.22% of total valid votes) in a field of four candidates. Neufeld was appointed Minister of Energy and Mines on June 5, 2001 by Premier Gordon Campbell.
In his position as Minister, Neufeld has been at the centre of the fray regarding the "re-regulation" of BC Hydro, which involves privatization of some of that Crown corporation. Neufeld has also advocated the increased use of coal power, and has promoted allowing a scientific review of offshore oil and gas. His term as Minister of Energy and Mines has been marked by significant growth in the oil and gas, and mining sectors.
In the 2005 B.C. general election Neufeld was again re-elected in the Peace River North riding the BC Liberal candidate. He received 5,498 votes (59.37% of total valid votes) in a field of four candidates. Neufeld was re-appointed Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on June 16, 2005 by Premier Gordon Campbell.
Neufeld served on the Fort Nelson city council from 1978 to 1986, five of those years as mayor. He lives in Fort St. John.
