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Bill Barisoff is a Canadian politician who served as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia from 1996 to 2013, representing the districts of Okanagan-Boundary, Penticton-Okanagan Valley and Penticton over the course of his career. A caucus member of the British Columbia Liberal Party, he served in the cabinet of Premier Gordon Campbell as Minister of Provincial Revenue and Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection. He was also the 36th Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2005 to 2013.

Biography

Born in Oliver, British Columbia, Barisoff owned a trucking company and served as a volunteer firefighter before entering politics. He was also a trustee with School District 53 for 18 years, including eight years as the district's chair.

He was approached by BC Liberal leader Gordon Campbell to contest the 1996 provincial election for that party, and was elected MLA in Okanagan-Boundary by narrowly defeating the incumbent Bill Barlee. While the Liberals were the Official Opposition, he served as critic for agriculture, transportation and highways, and aboriginal affairs.

With the Okanagan-Boundary riding dissolved ahead of the 2001 election, he ran in Penticton-Okanagan Valley and was re-elected there. The Liberals gained power in that election, and Barisoff was appointed to the cabinet that June to serve as Minister of Provincial Revenue; he was re-assigned as Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection in January 2004.

He was re-elected MLA in 2005, and was chosen as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly that September. In 2009 he won re-election in the renamed riding of Penticton, and continued as speaker. He faced criticism in 2012 following a report from the province's auditor general stating that basic accounting practices were not followed in the legislature, such as asking for receipts when approving MLA expenses; Barisoff was responsible for overseeing the legislature's budget ($63 million as of 2012) in his capacity as speaker. He announced in August 2012 that he would not run in the next election.

He and his wife Edna have three sons together.

References

1. ^ Cowan, Micki (August 20, 2012). "Liberal MLA Bill Barisoff won't seek re-election". CTV British Columbia. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
2. Lumley, E. (2008). The Canadian Who's who. Vol. 43. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802040718. ISSN 0068-9963. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
3. ^ "Barisoff, Hon. Bill (Penticton-Okanagan Valley) Minister of Water, Land and Air Protection". Canadian Parliamentary Guide. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
4. ^ "MLA: Hon. Bill Barisoff". Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
5. ^ "Barisoff stepping out of political arena". Penticton Western News. Black Press Media. August 21, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
6. ^ "Penticton MLA Bill Barisoff stepping down". CBC News. August 20, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
7. "Campbell Cabinet: 37th Parliament 2001-2005, 38th Parliament 2005-2009, 39th Parliament 2009-2011" (PDF). Legislative Assembly of British Columbia. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
8. "B.C. MLAs promise to reform expense account records". CBC News. August 1, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2024.

• Living people
• BC United MLAs
• British Columbia school board members
• Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia
• People from Oliver, British Columbia
• Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
• 20th-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
• 21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia