MLA Hon. Colin Hansen Vancouver-Quilchena Minister of Finance. Minister Responsible for Small Business and Deputy Premier

Heavenly Father, we pause to give thanks for the Hon. Colin Hansen today. You have given him a very important role within our government. We are reminded today of how You sent Phillip to the keeper of the Ethiopian Treasury to share Your love and hope with him. We ask today that You would do the same for Minister Hansen today and that he would experience Your love and hope in his own life in a very rich way. Grant him Your strength and wisdom as he oversees the financial affairs of our province. While many voices will share many opinions as to the course that he should take, we ask that above all, he would have a clear sense of the direction he should go as You lead him. Bless him and his family today.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

Colin Hansen was re-appointed Minister of Finance and appointed Deputy Premier on June 10, 2009. He previously served as Minister of Economic Development (June 16, 2005 to June 23, 2008), Minister of Health Services (June 5, 2001 to December 14, 2004) and a previous appointment as Minister of Finance (December 15, 2004 to June 15, 2005).

He was first elected in 1996 to represent the electoral district of Vancouver-Quilchena and was re-elected in 2001, 2005 and 2009.

Colin served as health critic for the Official Opposition, as well as the critic for Employment and Investment, and for Labour. He sat on the Select Standing Committees on Crown Corporations and on Economic Development, Science, Labour, Training and Technology.

He also sat on the Official Opposition Caucus Committees on Health and Economy.

Colin received his bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Victoria in 1975. Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, he and his wife Laura owned and operated a small business they established in 1988. Prior to that, he was vice-president of finance and administration for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Colin served as a director of the Vancouver-Yokohama Sister City Society and chair of the Vancouver Museum board of trustees. Colin and Laura Hansen have two children and live in the Dunbar area of Vancouver-Quilchena.