Bill Barlee

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Bill Barlee is a Canadian politician born in Grand Forks in 1932 who was first elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia as a New Democrat in 1988. He served as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1991 until 1993 and then as Minister of Small Business, Tourism and Culture from 1993 until 1996.

In 1999, Barlee was recruited by the Liberal Party of Canada and ran as the party's candidate in the district of Kootenay-Boundary-Okanagan in the 2000 federal general election, where he was defeated by a margin of just over 8000 votes by incumbent Canadian Alliance MP Jim Gouk.

Between 1996 and 1999, Barlee ran the consulting firm of Barlee, Geoghegan and Associates with his former assistant Mike Geoghegan. The firm achieved a number of notable successes including increasing the number of MRI facilities on Vancouver Island from one to three.

The firm originally premised on giving clients access to NDP cabinet ministers, became increasingly concerned about the negative economic and political impact the NDP administration was having on the province of British Columbia.

This culminated in the release of a polling analysis in May of 1999 which predicted the then NDP government would win zero to four seats in the next provincial election. An update of this study was again released in May of 2000 which again made the same startling prediction. In May of 2001 the NDP were reduced to just two seats in the provincial general election.

Bill Barlee, despite having served as an NDP cabinet minister, was able to build a number of positive relationships within the British Columbia Liberal Party which in turn contributed to his decision to run federally for the Liberal Party of Canada.

Bill is best known for his TV show. Pieces from his collection were also used on his award winning television series Gold Trails and Ghost Towns, which ran from 1986 to 1996 on five different networks nationwide. The show is still seen in reruns.

[edit] Work

He has had a varied career as a high school teacher, writer, publisher, and placer miner. Over the past few decades he has carefully amassed an impressive collection of Old West artifacts. Parts of the Barlee collection, valued at more than $1 million, have been placed on display in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa as well as in museums around the country.

During his time as Agriculture Minister, Bill conceived of and implemented the successful Buy B.C. program, the logo of which can now be found on virtually all food products made or grown in B.C. Vancouver Sun columnist Denny Boyd credited Bill Barlee as being one of the best Tourism Ministers B.C. has ever had. Bill is well known and well regarded by nearly everyone within the ranks of the provincial and federal government, civil service and media.

In addition to consulting work, Bill Barlee serves on the board of directors of IP Tel Net and is currently working on another historical book on the Old West.

[edit] Awards and Honours

Bill has received a number of honours during his career including the "Golden Door" award from the BC and Yukon Hotel Association; the "Stellar Award" by the BC Restaurants and Food Services Association; and the "Visionary Award" from the BC Council of Tourism Associations.