Brenda Bailey

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Brenda Bailey

| honorific-suffix = MLA

| image = Brenda Bailey - Collision 2024 (53800462449) (cropped).jpg

| caption = Bailey in 2024.

| office = Minister of Finance of British Columbia

| premier = David Eby

| term_start = November 18, 2024

| term_end =

| predecessor = Katrine Conroy

| successor =

| office1 = Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation of British Columbia

| premier1 = David Eby

| term_start1 = December 7, 2022

| term_end1 = November 18, 2024

| predecessor1 = Ravi Kahlon (Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation)

| successor1 = Diana Gibson

| office2 = Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation of British Columbia

| premier2 = John Horgan
David Eby

| term_start2 = November 26, 2020

| term_end2 = December 7, 2022

| predecessor2 = Rick Glumac (Technology)

| successor2 = Position abolished

| assembly3 = British Columbia Legislative

| constituency_AM3 = Vancouver-South Granville
Vancouver-False Creek (2020–2024)

| term_start3 = October 24, 2020

| term_end3 =

| predecessor3 = Sam Sullivan

| successor3 =

| party = New Democratic

| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|42|2009|9|11}}{{cite web |title=Geek Speak: Brenda Bailey, chief operating officer of Deep Fried Entertainment |url=https://www.straight.com/article-256762/geek-speak-brenda-bailey-chief-operating-officer-deep-fried-entertainment |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=The Georgia Straight |first=Stephen |last=Hui |date=2009-09-11 }}

| birth_place = Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada

| residence = Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

| occupation = {{hlist|Businesswoman|politician}}

| alma_mater = McGill University (BA)
University of Victoria (M.S.W.)

| spouse = Bijan Sanii

}}

Brenda Bailey (born 1966 or 1967) is a Canadian businesswoman and politician who currently serves as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing the electoral district of Vancouver-False Creek from 2020 to 2024, and Vancouver-South Granville since 2024. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, she has been a cabinet minister under Premier David Eby since 2022, currently serving as Minister of Finance of British Columbia.

Biography

Born and raised in Nanaimo, Bailey graduated from McGill University in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and international relations,{{cite web |title=Previous 'Do-Gooder' Becomes Video Game Leader |url=https://mcgillnews.mcgill.ca/s/1762/news/interior.aspx?sid=1762&gid=2&pgid=1175 |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=McGill University |first=Daniel |last=McCabe }} and holds a degree in social work from University of Victoria.{{cite web |title=Introducing Brenda Bailey: MLA for False Creek |url=http://www.falsecreeksouth.org/2020/11/between-the-bridges-november-6/ |accessdate=2023-03-27 |work=Between The Bridges |publisher=False Creek South Neighbourhood Association |date=2020-11-06 }} She had worked in the non-profit sector, including as regional manager for the Canadian Cancer Society, prior to entering the video game industry. She co-founded the Vancouver-based game developer Deep Fried Entertainment in 2005, serving as chief operating officer. In 2010 she co-founded Silicon Sisters, the first Canadian video game studio founded by women to create high quality games for women and girls,{{cite web |title=Canada's first women-owned video game company, Silicon Sisters, created in Vancouver |url=https://www.straight.com/blogra/canadas-first-women-owned-video-game-company-silicon-sisters-created-vancouver |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=The Georgia Straight |first=Blaine |last=Kyllo |date=2010-07-20 }}{{Cite web|last=Braganza|first=Chantal|date=2011-03-08|title=Silicon Sisters developing games for women|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2011/03/08/silicon_sisters_developing_games_for_women.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-11|website=thestar.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018155622/http://www.thestar.com/business/2011/03/08/silicon_sisters_developing_games_for_women.html |archive-date=2014-10-18 }} and served as chief executive officer (CEO).{{cite web |title=Breaking the code: Tech's sexism problem |url=https://chatelaine.com/living/breaking-the-code-techs-sexism-problem/ |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=Flare, via Chatelaine |first=Lauren |last=McKeon |date=2014-12-09 }} She also co-founded Women in Games Vancouver to support more women entering the sector.

Bailey had served as the executive director of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland,{{Cite web|title=Brenda Bailey|url=https://bcndpcaucus.ca/mla/brenda-bailey/|access-date=2021-04-11|website=New Democrat BC Government Caucus|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland Luminary Award Soirée 2016|url=https://www.bcbusiness.ca/Big-Sisters-BC-Lower-Mainlands-The-Luminary-Award-Soiree-2016|access-date=2023-03-27|date=2016-11-03|publisher=BC Business|first=Paul|last=Duchart|language=en-CA}} before being named executive director of DigiBC, the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association of British Columbia in February 2018.{{Cite web|title=DigiBC announces appointment of Brenda Bailey as its new executive director|url=https://www.digibc.org/articles/digibc-announces-appointment-of-brenda-bailey-as-its-new-executive-director|access-date=2023-03-27|date=2018-02-13|publisher=DigiBC|language=en-CA}}

She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of Vancouver-False Creek in the 2020 election, defeating the incumbent BC Liberal candidate and former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan.{{cite news |title=B.C. election results: NDP flips False Creek, takes nine of 11 Vancouver seats |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bc-election/bc-election-results-vancouver-false-creek |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=Vancouver Sun |first=Dan |last=Fumano |date=2020-10-25 }} She was named Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation by Premier John Horgan on November 26, 2020.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-cabinet-announcement-1.5816947 |title=New faces join B.C.'s new cabinet, while stalwarts stay on in key roles |publisher=CBC News |first1=Bethany |last1=Lindsay |date=2020-11-26 |accessdate=2023-03-27 }} She was then appointed Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation by Premier David Eby on December 7, 2022.{{Cite press release |date=2022-12-07 |title=New cabinet ready to take action on cost of living, health care, housing, climate |url=https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022PREM0097-001863 |access-date=2022-12-09 |publisher=Office of the Premier of British Columbia |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet with Niki Sharma, Katrine Conroy and Ravi Kahlon in top posts |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bc-premier-david-eby-new-cabinet |access-date=2023-03-21 |date=2022-12-08 |first=Katie |last=deRosa |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |language=en-CA}}

With the False Creek riding dissolved and redistributed ahead of the 2024 provincial election, she ran in the newly established riding of Vancouver-South Granville,{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-ridings-bc-provincial-election-1.7330828 |title=B.C. has new ridings for the 2024 election. Here's a look at them |publisher=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2024-09-23 |accessdate=2025-01-06 }} where she was re-elected MLA.{{cite news |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10820292/bc-election-ministers-win-lose-ndp/ |title=B.C. election: All but 3 NDP cabinet members projected to win re-election |publisher=Global News |first=Sean |last=Boynton |date=2024-10-20 |accessdate=2025-01-06 }} She was subsequently named Minister of Finance in November 2024.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ndp-cabinet-swearing-in-2024-1.7386565 |title=27 cabinet ministers sworn in as B.C.'s new NDP government takes power |publisher=CBC News |first1=Courtney |last1=Dickson |first2=Katie |last2=DeRosa |date=2024-11-18 |accessdate=2025-01-06 }}

Bailey was married to environmental economist Basil Stumborg, with whom she has three children,{{Cite web |title=Way of the JEDI: How Brenda Bailey is using her entrepreneurial past and tech experience to move the BC NDP forward |url=https://www.bcbusiness.ca/people/government/brenda-bailey-minister-jedi-jobs-economic-development-innovation-entrepreneur-women-tech-bc/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |date=2024-11-07 |first=Nathan |last=Caddell |publisher=BCBusiness |language=en-CA}} and to Steamworks Brewing Company CEO Eli Gershkovitch.{{Cite web |title=Steamworks hosts Beer for Water Pub Night this Thursday |url=https://brainstation.io/magazine/steamworks-hosts-beer-for-water-pub-night-this-thursday |access-date=2023-03-21 |date=2010-01-27 |publisher=BrainStation |language=en-CA}} Her current spouse is Bijan Sanii, CEO of BC fintech company INETCO.