MLA Hon. Iain Black Port Moody-Coquitlam Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development

Heavenly Father,

This is Your Heart, that we would pray with thanksgiving on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority. Today we thank You for Hon. Iain Black. Appointed as Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development and elected to represent the new riding of Port Moody-Coquitlam.

We are instructed to choose wise, discerning and experienced men, that You may appoint them as heads over us, leaders of thousands and of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. We are grateful that Hon. Iain Black has been chosen to represent the people of this Province. You have blessed him with many gifts and talents to succeed in what ever is before him. May Your wisdom and peace continue to guide him each day as new doors open before him. We bless and honor Hon. Iain Black and his position in Government, and ask for Your hand of protection to be upon him and his family.

In Jesus Name,Amen

Iain Black was appointed Minister of Small Business, Technology and Economic Development on June 10, 2009. He was previously Minister of Labour and Citizens' Services from June 23, 2008, to June 9, 2009.

Minister Black was elected to represent the new riding of Port Moody-Coquitlam in the 2009 provincial general election. He was first elected as an MLA for the former Port Moody-Westwood riding in 2005. Prior to his cabinet appointment, Minister Black served on the BC Provincial Treasury Board and several Select Standing Committees of the Legislature including Finance, Crown Corporations (where he served as Chair) and Public Accounts. He also served as Chair of both the Special Committee to Appoint a Conflict of Interest Commissioner and the Government Caucus Committee on Natural Resources and the Economy.

At the point of his election, Minister Black was president of the Banking Solutions Group of Open Solutions Canada. Prior to Open Solutions, Minister Black served as president or chief operating officer of both publicly traded and private technology companies, and as a partner with a national professional services firm. He started his career with IBM Canada Ltd.

Minister Black’s list of community volunteer roles includes coaching youth soccer in Coquitlam, and serving as a board director of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. A recipient of the 40-Under-40 award in 1998, “recognizing top business achievement in British Columbians”, Minister Black is an experienced speaker at North American business and technology industry conferences, who holds an honours degree in business from the University of Manitoba.

Minister Black and his wife reside in Coquitlam with their three children.