George Abbott
Shuswap

Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation

George Abbott was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation on June 10, 2009. He previously served as Minister of Health, Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.

George previously served as deputy house leader for the Official Opposition and was also critic for municipal affairs and for forests. He was Deputy Chair of the Select Standing Committees on Forests, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and was a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. He also sat on the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Crime.

First elected as a BC Liberal MLA in 1996 to represent the riding of Shuswap, George was re-elected in 2001, 2005, and again in 2009. Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, George was a political science instructor at Okanagan University College. He also owned the oldest and largest berry farm in the Interior.

He received his bachelor of arts from the University of British Columbia and his master of arts in political science from the University of Victoria.

George was the chair of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District. He was also involved in amateur sports as a minor hockey coach.

George and Lesley Abbott live in Sicamous and have three children.

Since 2001, George and the BC Liberals have invested  over $250 Million in the Shuswap. To view a map of projects that have been funded click on the George/Maps button or click here.