Brenda Bailey
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Brenda Bailey | |
|---|---|
 Campaign portrait, 2024 | |
| Minister of Finance of British Columbia | |
| Assumed office November 18, 2024 | |
| Premier | David Eby |
| Preceded by | Katrine Conroy |
| Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation of British Columbia | |
| In office December 7, 2022 – November 18, 2024 | |
| Premier | David Eby |
| Preceded by | Ravi Kahlon (Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation) |
| Succeeded by | Diana Gibson |
| Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation of British Columbia | |
| In office November 26, 2020 – December 7, 2022 | |
| Premier | John Horgan David Eby |
| Preceded by | Rick Glumac (Technology) |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly for Vancouver-South Granville Vancouver-False Creek (2020–2024) | |
| Assumed office October 24, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Sam Sullivan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1966 or 1967 (age 58–59)[1] Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada |
| Party | New Democratic |
| Spouse | Bijan Sanii |
| Alma mater | McGill University (BA) University of Victoria (M.S.W.) |
| Occupation |
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Brenda Bailey (born 1966 or 1967) is a Canadian businesswoman and politician who currently serves as a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of British Columbia, representing the electoral district of Vancouver-False Creek from 2020 to 2024, and Vancouver-South Granville since 2024. A member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party, she has been a cabinet minister under Premier David Eby since 2022, currently serving as Minister of Finance of British Columbia.
Born and raised in Nanaimo,[1][2] Bailey graduated from McGill University in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and international relations,[3] and holds a degree in social work from University of Victoria.[4] She had worked in the non-profit sector, including as regional manager for the Canadian Cancer Society, prior to entering the video game industry.[3] She co-founded the Vancouver-based game developer Deep Fried Entertainment in 2005, serving as chief operating officer.[1] In 2010 she co-founded Silicon Sisters, the first Canadian video game studio founded by women to create high quality games for women and girls,[5][6] and served as chief executive officer (CEO).[2] She also co-founded Women in Games Vancouver to support more women entering the sector.[1]
Bailey had served as the executive director of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland,[7][8] before being named executive director of DigiBC, the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association of British Columbia in February 2018.[9]
She was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the riding of Vancouver-False Creek in the 2020 election, defeating the incumbent BC Liberal candidate and former Vancouver mayor Sam Sullivan.[10] She was named Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation by Premier John Horgan on November 26, 2020.[11] She was then appointed Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation by Premier David Eby on December 7, 2022.[12][13]
With the False Creek riding dissolved and redistributed ahead of the 2024 provincial election, she ran in the newly established riding of Vancouver-South Granville,[14] where she was re-elected MLA.[15] She was subsequently named Minister of Finance in November 2024.[16] The government's 2026 provincial budget forecasted a record deficit of over $13 billion and implemented public sector job cuts over three years.[17]
Bailey was married to environmental economist Basil Stumborg, with whom she has three children.[18] Her current spouse is Bijan Sanii, CEO of BC fintech company INETCO.[18]
