Bruce Ralston

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix =

| name = Bruce Ralston

| honorific-suffix = {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|KC}}

| image = Bruce Ralston.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date =

| birth_place = Victoria, British Columbia

| office = Minister of Forests of British Columbia

| term_start = December 7, 2022

| term_end = November 18, 2024

| premier = David Eby

| predecessor = Katrine Conroy (Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development)

| successor = Ravi Parmar

| office1 = Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation of British Columbia

| term_start1 = November 26, 2020

| term_end1 = December 7, 2022

| premier1 = John Horgan
David Eby

| predecessor1 = position established

| successor1 = Josie Osborne

| office2 = Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources of British Columbia

| term_start2 = January 22, 2020

| term_end2 = November 26, 2020

| premier2 = John Horgan

| predecessor2 = Michelle Mungall

| successor2 = position abolished

| office3 = Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology of British Columbia

| term_start3 = July 18, 2017

| term_end3 = January 22, 2020

| premier3 = John Horgan

| predecessor3 = Shirley Bond (Jobs)
Jas Johal (Technology)

| successor3 = Michelle Mungall

| assembly4 = British Columbia Legislative

| constituency_AM4 = Surrey-Whalley

| term_start4 = May 17, 2005

| term_end4 = September 21, 2024

| predecessor4 = Elayne Brenzinger

| successor4 =

| office5 = Surrey City Councillor

| term_start5 = 1988

| term_end5 = 1993

| party = New Democrat

| religion =

| alma_mater = University of British Columbia
University of Cambridge

| profession = Lawyer

| spouse = Miriam Sobrino

| children = 3

| residence = Surrey, British Columbia

}}

Bruce Ralston {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|KC}} is a Canadian politician. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing the riding of Surrey-Whalley from 2005 until 2024. A member of the New Democratic Party (NDP), he has served in the cabinets of Premiers John Horgan and David Eby.

Life and career

Ralston was born in Victoria and grew up in Vancouver. He has degrees in history and law from the University of British Columbia, and a degree in history from the University of Cambridge in England.{{cite web |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/b-c-votes-surrey-whalley-candidates-on-the-record/ |title=B.C. VOTES: Surrey-Whalley candidates on the record |publisher=Surrey Now-Leader |first=Rick |last=Kupchuk |date=2013-04-23 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }} He was called to the bar in 1982,{{cite web |url=https://archive.news.gov.bc.ca/releases/news_releases_2020-2024/2020AG0078-002114.htm |title=2020 Queen's counsel appointees |publisher=British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General |date=2020-12-30 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }} and has lived in Surrey since 1990, where he ran his own law firm.{{cite web |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/42nd-Parliament/Ralston-Bruce |title=MLA: Hon. Bruce Ralston, Q.C. |publisher=Legislative Assembly of British Columbia |accessdate=2022-04-24 }}

Ralston served on the Surrey City Council from 1988 to 1993.{{cite web |title=Hon. Bruce Ralston |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/41st-Parliament/Ralston-Bruce |website=www.leg.bc.ca |access-date=18 October 2020 |language=en}} He was a member of the board of directors of Vancouver City Savings Credit Union from 1995 to 2006. Between 1996 and 2001, he served as president of the BC NDP.{{cite web |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/ralston-will-not-seek-leadership/ |title=Ralston will not seek leadership |publisher=Surrey Now-Leader |first=Kevin |last=Diakiw |date=2011-01-14 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }}

He ran in the 2001 provincial election as the NDP candidate in Surrey-Panorama Ridge, finishing a distant second behind Liberal candidate Gulzar Cheema. In the 2005 election he instead contested the riding of Surrey-Whalley, winning the seat with 55% of the vote. He kept his seat in the 2009 election, growing his vote share to 66.5%, and was re-elected in 2013, 2017 and 2020. He replaced John Horgan as NDP house leader in March 2014, allowing Horgan to contest the party leadership.{{cite web |url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/ralston-named-house-leader-for-ndp/ |title=Ralston named house leader for NDP |publisher=Surrey Now-Leader |first=Tom |last=Zytaruk |date=2014-03-20 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }}

In July 2017, Ralston was named Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology in the NDP minority government.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-s-new-ndp-government-sworn-into-office-1.4211129 |title=B.C.'s new NDP government sworn into office |publisher=CBC News |first1=Richard |last1=Zussman |first2=Justin |last2=McElroy |date=2017-07-18 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }} He swapped portfolios with Michelle Mungall in January 2020, becoming Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/horgan-tweeks-cabinet-1.5436367 |title=B.C. premier fills Jinny Sims vacancy, swaps jobs in cabinet tweak |publisher=The Canadian Press, via CBC News |date=2020-01-20 |accessdate=2022-04-24 }} His post was modified to Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation and Minister Responsible for the Consular Corps of British Columbia in November 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=2022-04-24 }} and he was appointed Queen's counsel in December of the same year. He was subsequently named Minister of Forests in the Eby ministry on December 7, 2022, while retaining the role of Minister Responsible for the Consular Corps.{{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}}

Electoral results

{{Election box begin | title=2001 British Columbia general election: Surrey-Panorama Ridge{{cite web |url=https://elections.bc.ca/docs/rpt/2001GEResults/2001-SOVGeneralElection.pdf |title=Statement of Votes - 37th Provincial General Election |accessdate=2023-03-13 |publisher=Elections BC }}}}

|NDP

|Bruce Ralston

|align="right"|3,240

|align="right"|19.91

|align="right"|–

|- bgcolor="white"

!align="right" colspan=3|Total Valid Votes

!align="right"|16,272

!align="right"|100.00

!align="right"|

|- bgcolor="white"

!align="right" colspan=3|Total Rejected Ballots