Mike de Jong

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Mike de Jong is British Columbia's Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (British Columbia), and Government House Leader (British Columbia). He is the British Columbia Liberal Party MLA for the riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman, a city in the Fraser Valley.

He previously served as Minister of Labour and Citizen Services (British Columbia), and as Minister of Forests (British Columbia). While in the Official Opposition between 1994 and 2001, de Jong became known for his blistering attacks on the New Democratic Party government.

De Jong was first elected to the British Columbia legislature in a 1994 by-election for the riding of Matsqui [1]. He defeated British Columbia Social Credit Party Leader Grace McCarthy who was attempting to rebuild that political party. Shortly after, McCarthy resigned as Social Credit Party Leader and the party failed to elect any members in the subsequent provincial election in 1996.

He was re-elected in 1996, 2001 and 2005 to the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman.

Before his election, de Jong was a lawyer. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Carleton University in Ottawa and a law degree from the University of Alberta.