Maurine Karagianis

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Maurine Karagianis is a Canadian politician.

Karagianis is the British Columbia New Democratic Party MLA for the riding of Esquimalt-Metchosin. She is Official Opposition Critic for the Ministry of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform (currently Hon. Rick Thorpe). In the 2005 British Columbia general election Karagianis won election as MLA after losing the same riding in the NDP wipe-out in 2001.

Maurine co-founded the Sunshine Folkfest in Powell River, BC. She is an entrepreneur, opening her own retail fashion store, operating a wholesale venture and a successful import/export business.

In the 90's, Maurine developed print media and produced for television. She was elected as a municipal councillor in Esquimalt in 1996, and re-elected in 1999 and again in 2002.

Starting in 1998, she served three years with the provincial government as assistant to three NDP cabinet ministers – first in the Social Services ministry and then in Transportation and Highways.

Maurine recently ran a consulting company that works with non-profit organizations and First Nations communities to create affordable housing.