Norm Letnick | |
|---|---|
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| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Kelowna-Lake Country | |
| Assumed office May 12, 2009 | |
| Preceded by | Al Horning |
| Minister of Agriculture of British Columbia | |
| In office September 5, 2012 – July 18, 2017 | |
| Premier | Christy Clark |
| Preceded by | Don McRae |
| Succeeded by | Lana Popham |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1957 Montreal, Quebec, Canada |
| Political party | BC Liberal |
| Spouse | Helene |
| Children | Jean-Pierre, Melanie, Naomi, Daughter-in-law Joanna, Grand Daughter Luna and Grandson Sol |
| Residence(s) | Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation | Businessman, Professor |
Norm Letnick (born 1957) is a Canadian politician, who was first elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2009 provincial election and re-elected in 2013, 2017, and 2020. During his terms in office, Letnick served over four years as British Columbia's minister of Agriculture, the longest period in this portfolio of any BC Liberal. He was elected as a member of the BC Liberal Party in the riding of Kelowna-Lake Country. While his party formed a majority government in the 39th Parliament, Letnick was not initially included in the cabinet but was appointed to several committees, including the Select Standing Committee on Health where he was chair and tasked to report on the impacts of baby boomers and alternative strategies on the health care system. Prior to being appointed assistant deputy speaker he served as opposition health critic for three years. During that time he worked in close collaboration with health minister Adrian Dix on many files but none more important than the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic response. [1]
As a private member, Letnick also introduced one piece of legislation, the Emergency Intervention Disclosure Act, which was adopted by government. This was the first time in six years that a private member was successful in introducing and getting legislation passed in the legislature.
Prior to his election to the legislature, he was a business professor at the Okanagan School of Business. He graduated from Heriot-Watt University with a master of business administration and achieved candidacy status toward a doctorate in health economics at the University of British Columbia before setting the pursuit of a PhD aside to focus on his public duties as minister of Agriculture. He served as a municipal councillor in the Town of Banff in the 1990s and in the City of Kelowna between 2005 and 2009.