MLA: Hon. Ida Chong - Oak Bay-Gordon Head - Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development

Father, we pray for the MLA: Hon. Ida Chong today and ask Your blessing upon her life. We are grateful for her many years of loyal and dedicated public service both at the municipal and provincial levels and pray that You will continue to give her renewed wisdom, vision and strength. We pray that You will guide her as she balances her ministerial responsibilities along with the other duties that come from being an MLA. Give her great favour in those areas where she needs favour and may she find Your peace as she begins her day. May she have a time of refreshing this summer as well as a time of renewing and strengthening relationships with family and friends. Amen.

Ida Chong was re-elected to represent the riding Oak Bay–Gordon Head in the 2009 election. She currently serves as Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.

Minister Chong’s previous cabinet portfolios include Minister of Science and Universities, Minister of  Regional, Economic and Skills Development, Healthy Living and Sport, Small Business, Technology and Economic Development, Minister Responsible for the Asia-Pacific Initiative, Minister of Community Services, Minister of Advanced Education and Minister of State for Women’s and Seniors’ Services. In addition to her role as Minister, she also served on the Cabinet Committee for Climate Action and B.C.’s Treasury Board.

A native of greater Victoria, Minister Chong has represented her constituency of Oak Bay-Gordon Head since she first entered provincial politics in 1996. During her first term at the legislature she was the Official Opposition critic in a number of areas, including critic for Small Business and Deputy Critic of Finance.

Minister Chong has been involved in her community for years - volunteering for a number of not-for-profit groups and serving as municipal councilor for the District of Saanich, from 1993 - 1996.

For nearly 20 years, she was senior partner in an accounting practice based in Saanich, catering to small and medium sized enterprises. While no longer in active practice, she proudly retains her credentials as a Certified General Accountant, having won a number of awards for her work in this field, including being named in 2006, a Fellow of the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada, a national designation for exemplary service.