View source for Bruce Ralston

{{Short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{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]]<ref name="BCLeg42"/>
| 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]]<br>[[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) <br> [[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, British Columbia|Surrey]] City Councillor
| term_start5         = 1988
| term_end5           = 1993
| party               = [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democrat]]
| religion            = 
| alma_mater          = [[University of British Columbia]]<br>[[University of Cambridge]]
| profession          = Lawyer
| spouse              = Miriam Sobrino
| children            = 3
| residence           = [[Surrey, British Columbia]]
}}
'''Bruce Ralston''' {{Post-nominals|country=CAN|KC}} is a [[Canadians|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 [[British Columbia New Democratic Party|New Democratic Party]] (NDP), he has served in the cabinets of [[Premier of British Columbia|Premiers]] [[John Horgan]] and [[David Eby]].

==Life and career==
Ralston was born in [[Victoria, British Columbia|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.<ref name="BCLeg42"/><ref name="Now130423">{{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 }}</ref> He was called to the bar in 1982,<ref name="QC">{{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 }}</ref> and has lived in [[Surrey, British Columbia|Surrey]] since 1990,<ref name="Now130423"/> where he ran his own law firm.<ref name="BCLeg42">{{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 }}</ref>

Ralston served on the [[Surrey City Council]] from 1988 to 1993.<ref>{{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}}</ref> He was a member of the board of directors of [[Vancity|Vancouver City Savings Credit Union]] from 1995 to 2006.<ref name="BCLeg42"/> Between 1996 and 2001, he served as president of the BC NDP.<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

He ran in the [[2001 British Columbia general election|2001 provincial election]] as the NDP candidate in [[Surrey-Panorama Ridge]], finishing a distant second behind [[British Columbia Liberal Party|Liberal]] candidate [[Gulzar Cheema]].<ref name="2001elxn"/> In the [[2005 British Columbia general election|2005 election]] he instead contested the riding of [[Surrey-Whalley]], winning the seat with 55% of the vote.<ref name="Now130423"/> He kept his seat in the [[2009 British Columbia general election|2009 election]], growing his vote share to 66.5%,<ref name="Now130423"/> and was re-elected in [[2013 British Columbia general election|2013]], [[2017 British Columbia general election|2017]] and [[2020 British Columbia general election|2020]].<ref name="BCLeg42"/> He replaced [[John Horgan]] as NDP house leader in March 2014, allowing Horgan to contest the [[2014 British Columbia New Democratic Party leadership election|party leadership]].<ref>{{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 }}</ref>

In July 2017, Ralston was named Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology in the NDP minority government.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> He swapped portfolios with [[Michelle Mungall]] in January 2020, becoming Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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,<ref>{{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 }}</ref> and he was appointed [[Queen's counsel]] in December of the same year.<ref name="QC"/> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Electoral results==
{{2020 British Columbia general election/Surrey-Whalley}}
{{2017 British Columbia general election/Surrey-Whalley}}
{{2013 British Columbia general election/Surrey-Whalley}}
{{2009 British Columbia general election/Surrey-Whalley}}
{{2005 British Columbia general election/Surrey-Whalley}}
{{Election box begin | title=[[2001 British Columbia general election]]: [[Surrey-Panorama Ridge]]<ref name="2001elxn">{{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]] }}</ref>}}
|-
{{CANelec |BC |Liberal |[[Gulzar Cheema]] |9,590 |58.94 |&ndash;}}
|-
{{Canadian party colour|BC|NDP|row}}
|[[New Democratic Party of British Columbia|NDP]]
|Bruce Ralston
|align="right"|3,240
|align="right"|19.91
|align="right"|&ndash;
{{CANelec |BC |Green |Sunny Athwal |1,437 |8.83 |&ndash;}}
{{CANelec |BC |Unity |[[Heather Stilwell]] |1,123 |6.90 |&ndash;}}
{{CANelec |BC |Marijuana|Randy Caine|424|2.61|&ndash;}}
{{CANelec |BC |Reform |Shirley Ann Abraham |408 |2.51 |&ndash;}}
{{CANelec |BC |Action |Ed Weiland |50 |0.30|&ndash;}}
|- 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
!align="right"|128
!align="right"|0.79
!align="right"|
|- bgcolor="white"
!align="right" colspan=3|Turnout
!align="right"|16,400
!align="right"|69.04
!align="right"|
|}

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*{{commons category-inline|Bruce Ralston}}

{{s-start}}
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=David_Eby}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Katrine Conroy]]
| post1         = Minister of Forests
| post1years    = December 7, 2022-
| post1note     = 
| post1followed = Incumbent
}}
{{Canadian federal ministry navigational box header |ministry=John_Horgan}}
{{ministry box cabinet posts
| post1preceded = [[Shirley Bond]]<br />[[Jas Johal]]
| post1         = Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology
| post1years    = July 18, 2017–January 22, 2020
| post1note     = 
| post1followed = [[Michelle Mungall]]
| post2preceded = [[Michelle Mungall]]
| post2         = Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
| post2years    = January 22, 2020-November 26, 2020
| post2note     = 
| post2followed = ''position abolished''
| post3preceded = ''position established''
| post3         = Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation
| post3years    = November 26, 2020-December 7, 2022
| post3note     = 
| post3followed = [[Josie Osborne]]
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Eby ministry}}
{{Horgan Ministry}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralston, Bruce}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia]]
[[Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs]]
[[Category:Politicians from Victoria, British Columbia]]
[[Category:Surrey, British Columbia city councillors]]
[[Category:Peter A. Allard School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Cambridge]]
[[Category:Canadian King's Counsel]]
[[Category:Lawyers in British Columbia]]
[[Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia]]