Terry Beech

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| name = Terry Beech

| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|MP|size=100%}}

| image = Mainbeech1.jpg

| alt = Terry Beech in 2019

| caption = Beech in 2019

| office = Minister of Citizens' Services

| primeminister = Justin Trudeau

| term_start = July 26, 2023

| term_end = March 14, 2025

| predecessor = Position established

| successor = Position abolished

| office1 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance

| minister1 = Chrystia Freeland

| term_start1 = December 3, 2021

| term_end1 = July 26, 2023

| predecessor1 = Sean Fraser

| successor1 = Rachel Bendayan

| office2 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard

| minister2 = Bernadette Jordan

| term_start2 = December 12, 2019

| term_end2 = August 15, 2021

| predecessor2 = Sean Casey

| successor2 = Mike Kelloway

| minister3 = Dominic LeBlanc

| term_start3 = January 28, 2017

| term_end3 = August 31, 2018

| predecessor3 = Serge Cormier

| successor3 = Sean Casey

| office4 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (B.C.)

| minister4 = Mélanie Joly

| term_start4 = March 19, 2021

| term_end4 = August 15, 2021

| predecessor4 = Position established

| successor4 = Position abolished

| office5 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport

| term_start5 = August 31, 2018

| term_end5 = September 11, 2019

| minister5 = Marc Garneau

| predecessor5 = Karen McCrimmon

| successor5 = Chris Bittle

| office6 = Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science

| term_start6 = December 2, 2015

| term_end6 = January 28, 2017

| minister6 = Kirsty Duncan

| predecessor6 = Position established

| successor6 = Kate Young

| parliament7 = Canadian

| riding7 = Burnaby North—Seymour

| term_start7 = October 19, 2015

| term_end7 =

| predecessor7 = Riding established

| successor7 =

| office8 = Nanaimo City Councillor

| term_end8 = December 2, 2002

| term_start8 = December 6, 1999

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|4|2}}{{cite web |url=http://www.burnabynow.com/news/terry-beech-gets-liberal-nod-in-burnaby-north-seymour-1.1902029 |title=Terry Beech gets Liberal nod in Burnaby North-Seymour |website=www.burnabynow.com |access-date=January 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303181802/http://www.burnabynow.com/news/terry-beech-gets-liberal-nod-in-burnaby-north-seymour-1.1902029 |archive-date=3 March 2016 |url-status=dead}}

| birth_place = Comox, British Columbia, Canada

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Businessman, politician

| party = Liberal

| residence = Burnaby, British Columbia

| footnotes =

| spouse = Ravi Bansal Beech

| children = 2

| alma_mater = Simon Fraser University (B.B.A.)
Oxford University (M.B.A)

}}

Terry James Beech {{post-nominals|country=CAN|PC|MP}} (born April 2, 1981) is a Canadian politician and former businessman. A member of the Liberal Party, he has represented Burnaby North—Seymour in the House of Commons since the 2015 federal election. From 2023 to 2025 Beech served as Minister of Citizens' Services.

In 1999, Beech was elected to the Nanaimo City Council at the age of 18, becoming British Columbia's youngest-ever elected official.

Early life and municipal politics

Beech was born in Comox, British Columbia,{{cite web|title=Profile - Beech, Terry |url=https://lop.parl.ca/sites/ParlInfo/default/en_CA/People/Profile?personId=18430 |publisher=Library of Parliament|access-date=2023-05-23}} and grew up in Victoria.

Beech was elected to Nanaimo City Council in 1999 at age 18,{{Cite web |last=Beacon |first=Burnaby |title=Know your candidate: Terry Beech, Burnaby North-Seymour |url=https://burnabybeacon.com/p/terry-beech-federal-election-burnaby-liberal |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Burnaby Beacon |language=en}} becoming British Columbia's youngest-ever elected official. He served on the council for three years, and did not seek re-election.

Education and business career

Beech earned a certificate in public administration from Capilano University and a bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University, jointly majoring in business and economics.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-15 |title=Canada Votes: Terry Beech, Liberal Party, Burnaby North-Seymour |url=https://www.burnabynow.com/local-news/canada-votes-terry-beech-liberal-party-burnaby-north-seymour-10521452 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Burnaby Now |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2013-12-10 |title=Terry Beech |url=https://www.biv.com/news/terry-beech-8238345 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Business in Vancouver |language=en}}

After completing his studies at SFU, Beech joined Aquilini Investment Group, where he worked as a director of business development until 2008.

In 2006, Beech and his twin brother, Doug, founded a non-profit organization called Twinbro Local Leaders, aimed at helping students access scholarships.{{Cite web|url=https://the-peak.ca/2014/07/former-professor-to-represent-burnaby-north-seymour-riding/|title=Former professor to represent Burnaby North-Seymour riding {{pipe}} The Peak|first=Leah|last=Bjornson|date=22 July 2014 }}{{Cite web |date=2024-02-17 |title=About Terry - Terry Beech, MP |url=https://terrybeechmp.ca/about-terry/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=terrybeechmp.ca |language=en-US}}

While working on his MBA at Oxford University through their online offerings, Beech started tech company HiretheWorld. In 2010, HiretheWorld won the BCIC New Ventures Competition, and in 2012, it was named one of BC Business Magazine's top 20 most innovative companies.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2017/03/beedie-alumnus-and-mp-terry-beech-named-young-global-leader.html|title=Beedie alumnus and MP Terry Beech named Young Global Leader - SFU News - Simon Fraser University|website=www.sfu.ca}}

Beech has taught entrepreneurship and finance courses as an adjunct professor at Simon Fraser University{{Cite web|url=https://beedie.sfu.ca/ideas/2017/03/beedie-alumnus-and-mp-terry-beech-named-young-global-leader-by-world-economic-forum/|title=Beedie alumnus and MP Terry Beech named Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum {{pipe}} Ideas@Beedie|website=beedie.sfu.ca}} and the University of British Columbia.{{cite web |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/parliamentary-secretaries/terry-beech |title=Terry Beech | Prime Minister of Canada |website=pm.gc.ca |access-date=15 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190814170643/https://pm.gc.ca/en/parliamentary-secretaries/terry-beech |archive-date=14 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}

In 2010-11, Beech participated in the Action Canada program, where he co-authored, "Fueling Canada's Economic Success: A National Strategy for High-Growth Entrepreneurship."{{Cite web|url=http://www.actioncanada.ca/project/task-force-national-strategy-high-growth-entrepreneurship/|title=Task Force on A National Strategy for High Growth Entrepreneurship}}{{Cite web |title=Fuelling Canada’s Economic Success: A National Strategy for High-Growth Entrepreneurship |url=https://actioncanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/FuellingCanadasEconomicSuccess-ANationalStrategyForHigh-GrowthEntrepreneurship.pdf}}

In 2013, Beech married Ravi Bansal (now Ravi Bansal Beech). They have two daughters, Nova and Solar.{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Chris |date=March 3, 2019 |title=MP tells House of Commons about how New West NICU saved his baby |url=http://www.newwestrecord.ca/opinion/blogs/mp-tells-house-of-commons-about-how-new-west-nicu-saved-his-baby-1.23651742 |access-date=October 5, 2019 |newspaper=New West Record}}

Political Career

File:Podiumbeech.jpg

Beech entered federal politics as a member of the Liberal Party, securing the nomination for the newly created riding of Burnaby North—Seymour.{{Cite web |last=EIC |date=2014-07-22 |title=Former professor to represent Burnaby North-Seymour riding |url=https://the-peak.ca/2014/07/former-professor-to-represent-burnaby-north-seymour-riding/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=The Peak |language=en-CA}} In the 2015 federal election he defeated incumbent New Democratic Party candidate Carol Baird Ellan and Conservative Party candidate Mike Little,{{Cite web |title=Official Voting Results |url=https://www.elections.ca/res/rep/off/ovr2015app/41/9786e.html |website=www.elections.ca}} whose parties had previously won the respective portions of the area from which the Burnaby North—Seymour was created. Beech received 36.1% of the vote, amidst a broader surge of Liberal support in Greater Vancouver during the 2015 federal election.{{Cite news |title=Liberals dominate in Metro Vancouver |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/liberals-dominate-in-metro-vancouver |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20210617175319/https://vancouversun.com/news/metro/liberals-dominate-in-metro-vancouver |archive-date=2021-06-17 |access-date=2025-05-04 |work=vancouversun |language=en-CA}}

Following his election, Beech was appointed the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Science. In January 2017, Beech was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. Beech held this role until August 2018, when he was named Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ourcommons.ca/Members/en/Terry-Beech(89236)/roles|title=Roles - Terry Beech - Current and Past - Members of Parliament - House of Commons of Canada|website=www.ourcommons.ca}}

In 2018, Beech was awarded Parliamentarian of the Year for Best Civic Outreach.{{Cite web|title=Parliamentarians of the Year awards 2018 in pictures - Macleans.ca|url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/2018-parliamentarian-of-the-year-awards-in-pictures/|access-date=2020-07-29|website=www.macleans.ca|date=6 November 2018 }} This award is voted on by all Member of Parliament. Beech attributed his win to his efforts to engage with constituents and by perpetually knocking on doors in his riding.{{Cite web |title=Terry Beech: The perpetual door-knocker - Macleans.ca |url=https://www.macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/terry-beech-the-perpetual-door-knocker/ |access-date=2020-07-29 |website=www.macleans.ca}}

In the 2019 Canadian federal election, Beech was re-elected, receiving 35.5% of the vote. He defeated New Democratic Party candidate Svend Robinson, who had previously served as MP in Burnaby from 1979 to 2004 and Heather Leung, who was dropped by the Conservative Party after a video of her making homophobic comments surfaced.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-06 |title=Burnaby candidate in ‘really bizarre’ spot after dropped by Conservatives: campaign manager |url=https://www.burnabynow.com/election-2018-archive/burnaby-candidate-in-really-bizarre-spot-after-dropped-by-conservatives-campaign-manager-3108484 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Burnaby Now |language=en}}

On December 12, 2019, Beech was once again named as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.{{cite web |title=Parliamentary Secretaries |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/parliamentary-secretaries}} On February 4, 2020, Beech was selected by fellow caucus members to become the chair of the Federal Liberal Pacific Caucus, composed of Liberal MPs from British Columbia.{{Cite web |title=Terry Beech, MP |url=https://www.facebook.com/terryjamesbeech/posts/1438774592963878 |access-date=2020-07-29 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}

In the 2021 Canadian federal election, Beech was re-elected with 39.4% of the vote.{{Cite web |title=Canada election results: Burnaby North–Seymour {{!}} Globalnews.ca |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7941469/canada-election-burnaby-north-seymour-2021/ |access-date=2021-12-07 |website=Global News |language=en-CA}} On December 3, 2021, Terry Beech was named Parliamentary Secretary to Chrystia Freeland, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance.{{Cite web |date=2021-12-03 |title=Prime Minister welcomes new parliamentary secretaries |url=https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/12/03/prime-minister-welcomes-new-parliamentary-secretaries |access-date=2021-12-07 |website=Prime Minister of Canada |language=en}}

Beech was appointed as the first Minister of Citizens' Services on July 26, 2023 by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The role was intended to address weaknesses in the government's delivery of services to Canadians.{{Cite web |last=May |first=Kathryn |last2= |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Terry Beech’s tall order: revamping service delivery |url=https://policyoptions.irpp.org/magazines/august-2023/terry-beech-tall-order-service-delivery/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Policy Options |language=en}} One of Beech's key acts, a proposal to create a 30-business-day guarantee for passports to address delays received widespread media coverage.{{Cite web |last=Press |first=The Canadian |date=2025-03-07 |title=Service Canada says you'll soon get your passport processed in 30 days, or it's free |url=https://www.ipolitics.ca/2025/03/07/service-canada-says-youll-soon-get-your-passport-processed-in-30-days-or-its-free/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=iPolitics |language=en-US}} In March 2025, Beech released the first State of Service Report.{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Employment and Social Development |date=2025-03-07 |title=The State of Service |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/reports/state-of-service/sos-report-2025.html |access-date=2025-03-07 |website=www.canada.ca}} However, the portfolio was dissolved following Mark Carney's appointment as Prime Minister in 2025, as part of a broader cabinet restructuring under his leadership, and Beech was not offerred another cabinet role.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=Burnaby North-Seymour MP Terry Beech excluded from Carney's cabinet |url=https://www.nsnews.com/local-news/burnaby-north-seymour-mp-terry-beech-excluded-from-carneys-cabinet-10377569 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=North Shore News |language=en}}

In the 2025 federal election, Beech was re-elected, receiving 59.1% of the vote, a significant increase from his previous results.

Awards

Best Politician : Best of Burnaby 2023 {{Cite web |date=2023-04-27 |title=Best of Burnaby 2023 by Burnaby Now - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/burnaby-now/docs/bbythu20230427-best-of-bby |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=issuu.com |language=en}} and 2024 {{Cite web |date=2024-05-01 |title=Best of Burnaby 2024 by Burnaby Now - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/burnaby-now/docs/gmdbby4002024_04_30 |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}
Best Constituency MP in Canada: Voted by Hill Times 2023 {{Cite web |title=Fraser voted best minister in Question Period and best public speaker in The Hill Times' Politically Savvy Survey 2023 |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2023/08/14/fraser-voted-best-question-period-cabinet-minister-and-best-public-speaker-in-28th-annual-politically-savvy-survey/394900/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=The Hill Times |language=en-CA}} and 2024 {{Cite web |title=Poilievre voted best public speaker, most quotable, hardest-working, and biggest self-promoter in The Hill Times’ 29th Annual Politically Savvy Survey |url=https://www.hilltimes.com/story/2024/07/15/poilievre-sweeps-categories-fraser-voted-best-minister-in-qp-in-the-hill-times-29th-annual-politically-savvy-survey/427925/ |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=The Hill Times |language=en-CA}}
Hardest Working MP in Canada: Voted by Hill Times 2023
Best MP to Work For in Canada: Voted by Hill Times 2024
Parliamentarian of the Year - Civic Outreach: Maclean's Magazine 2018 {{Cite web |title=Canada {{!}} Parliamentarians of the Year awards 2018 in pictures |url=https://macleans.ca/politics/ottawa/2018-parliamentarian-of-the-year-awards-in-pictures/}}
Belzberg Blaney Award for Exceptional Service: Action Canada 2024 {{Cite web |title=Award - Action Canada |url=https://actioncanada.ca/award |access-date=2024-10-18 |website=actioncanada.ca/ |language=en-US}}