New Culture Minister

Kevin Krueger, the MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson, has been appointed Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts on June 10, 2009. We hope that Mr. Krueger will be a strong champion for the arts, and a mindful steward of our industry. It is our desperate wish that he will continue the work his predecessor began, to restore the devastating cuts to the BC Arts Council. Mr. Krueger had served as Minister of Community Development since January 19, 2009 and as Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform since June 23, 2008. Kevin previously was Minister of State for Mining.

Kevin Krueger was re-elected as MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson in 2005 after being elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2001. Kevin is also a member of the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and Economy, where he previously served as Chair. While in Opposition, Kevin served as the BC Liberal Critic for Labour. He was Caucus Whip as well as a member of the Select Standing Committee on Education. Kevin was named to the Legislative Standing Committees for Committee of Selection and the Special Committee for the Citizen’s Assembly on Electoral Reform. He was also a member of the Legislative Assembly Management Committee. He previously was a member of the Small Scale Salvage Committee. Before becoming an MLA, Kevin worked with the Insurance Corporation of BC for 20 years, and at the time of his departure was a road safety regional manager. His community work includes the Kamloops Chamber of Commerce, Kamloops Community Counterattack Committee, Rotary Club past-president, coordinator with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and secretary of the Protocol Committee for the 1993 Canada Summer Games. He arranged the twinning of the Rotary Clubs of Kamloops and Uji, Japan. He is a former board member, executive councillor and shop steward of the Office and Technical Employees Union, Local 378. He was a director of the Prince George & District Credit Union. Kevin and his wife Debbie, a school teacher, have six children, including two daughters-in-law and a son-in-law. They are the proud grandparents of seven children.