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Former Comox Valley resident not seeking re-election next year

G.P. Vanier grad Colin Hansen will not seek re-election to the B.C. legislature next year, he announced Friday.
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A graduate of G.P. Vanier Secondary School in Courtenay

G.P. Vanier grad Colin Hansen will not seek re-election to the B.C. legislature next year, he announced Friday.

The former finance and health minister was the frontman for Premier Gordon Campbell in the controversial introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax.

Colin Hansen was first elected in 1996 to represent the electoral district of Vancouver-Quilchena and was re-elected in 2001, 2005 and 2009. He serves on the Treasury Board.

He was re-appointed Minister of Finance and appointed Deputy Premier on June 10, 2009. He was given additional responsibility for Small Business on Oct. 25, 2010, and served in both these roles until March 14, 2011.

He previously served as Minister of Economic Development (June 16, 2005 to June 23, 2008), Minister of Health Services (June 5, 2001 to Dec. 14, 2004) and a previous appointment as Minister of Finance (Dec. 15, 2004 to June 15, 2005).

He served as health critic for the Official Opposition, as well as the critic for Employment and Investment, and for Labour. He sat on the Select Standing Committees on Crown Corporations and on Economic Development, Science, Labour, Training and Technology.

He also sat on the Official Opposition Caucus Committees on Health and Economy.

Hansen received his bachelor of arts in political science from the University of Victoria in 1975. Before his election, he and his wife Laura owned and operated a small business they established in 1988. Prior to that, he was vice-president of finance and administration for the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada.

Hansen served as a director of the Vancouver-Yokohama Sister City Society and chair of the Vancouver Museum board of trustees. Colin and Laura Hansen have two children and live in the Dunbar area of Vancouver-Quilchena.