{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Brenda Bailey | honorific_suffix = MLA | image = Brenda Bailey, BC NDP candidate for Vancouver-South Granville.jpg | caption = Campaign portrait, 2024 | office = Minister of Finance of British Columbia | premier = David Eby | term_start = November 18, 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = Katrine Conroy | successor = | office1 = Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation of British Columbia | premier1 = David Eby | term_start1 = December 7, 2022 | term_end1 = November 18, 2024 | predecessor1 = Ravi Kahlon (Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation) | successor1 = Diana Gibson | office2 = Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation of British Columbia | premier2 = John Horgan<br />David Eby | term_start2 = November 26, 2020 | term_end2 = December 7, 2022 | predecessor2 = Rick Glumac (Technology) | successor2 = ''Position abolished'' | assembly3 = British Columbia Legislative | constituency_AM3 = Vancouver-South Granville<br /><small>Vancouver-False Creek (2020–2024)</small> | term_start3 = October 24, 2020 | term_end3 = | predecessor3 = Sam Sullivan | successor3 = | party = New Democratic | birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|42|2009|9|11}}<ref name="Straight090911">{{cite web |title=Geek Speak: Brenda Bailey, chief operating officer of Deep Fried Entertainment |url=https://www.straight.com/article-256762/geek-speak-brenda-bailey-chief-operating-officer-deep-fried-entertainment |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=The Georgia Straight |first=Stephen |last=Hui |date=2009-09-11 }}</ref> | birth_place = Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada | occupation = {{hlist|Businesswoman|politician}} | alma_mater = McGill University (BA)<br />University of Victoria (M.S.W.) | spouse = Bijan Sanii }}
'''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.
== Biography == Born and raised in Nanaimo,<ref name="Straight090911" /><ref name="Flare141209" /> Bailey graduated from McGill University in 1990 with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and international relations,<ref name="McGill">{{cite web |title=Previous 'Do-Gooder' Becomes Video Game Leader |url=https://mcgillnews.mcgill.ca/s/1762/news/interior.aspx?sid=1762&gid=2&pgid=1175 |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=McGill University |first=Daniel |last=McCabe }}</ref> and holds a degree in social work from University of Victoria.<ref>{{cite web |title=Introducing Brenda Bailey: MLA for False Creek |url=http://www.falsecreeksouth.org/2020/11/between-the-bridges-november-6/ |accessdate=2023-03-27 |work=Between The Bridges |publisher=False Creek South Neighbourhood Association |date=2020-11-06 }}</ref> She had worked in the non-profit sector, including as regional manager for the Canadian Cancer Society, prior to entering the video game industry.<ref name="McGill" /> She co-founded the Vancouver-based game developer Deep Fried Entertainment in 2005, serving as chief operating officer.<ref name="Straight090911" /> 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,<ref name="Straight100720">{{cite web |title=Canada's first women-owned video game company, Silicon Sisters, created in Vancouver |url=https://www.straight.com/blogra/canadas-first-women-owned-video-game-company-silicon-sisters-created-vancouver |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=The Georgia Straight |first=Blaine |last=Kyllo |date=2010-07-20 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Braganza|first=Chantal|date=2011-03-08|title=Silicon Sisters developing games for women|url=https://www.thestar.com/business/2011/03/08/silicon_sisters_developing_games_for_women.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-04-11|website=thestar.com|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018155622/http://www.thestar.com/business/2011/03/08/silicon_sisters_developing_games_for_women.html |archive-date=2014-10-18 }}</ref> and served as chief executive officer (CEO).<ref name="Flare141209">{{cite web |title=Breaking the code: Tech's sexism problem |url=https://chatelaine.com/living/breaking-the-code-techs-sexism-problem/ |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=Flare, via Chatelaine |first=Lauren |last=McKeon |date=2014-12-09 }}</ref> She also co-founded Women in Games Vancouver to support more women entering the sector.<ref name="Straight090911" />
Bailey had served as the executive director of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brenda Bailey|url=https://bcndpcaucus.ca/mla/brenda-bailey/|access-date=2021-04-11|website=New Democrat BC Government Caucus|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland Luminary Award Soirée 2016|url=https://www.bcbusiness.ca/Big-Sisters-BC-Lower-Mainlands-The-Luminary-Award-Soiree-2016|access-date=2023-03-27|date=2016-11-03|publisher=BC Business|first=Paul|last=Duchart|language=en-CA}}</ref> before being named executive director of DigiBC, the Interactive and Digital Media Industry Association of British Columbia in February 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|title=DigiBC announces appointment of Brenda Bailey as its new executive director|url=https://www.digibc.org/articles/digibc-announces-appointment-of-brenda-bailey-as-its-new-executive-director|access-date=2023-03-27|date=2018-02-13|publisher=DigiBC|language=en-CA}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news |title=B.C. election results: NDP flips False Creek, takes nine of 11 Vancouver seats |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bc-election/bc-election-results-vancouver-false-creek |accessdate=2023-03-27 |publisher=Vancouver Sun |first=Dan |last=Fumano |date=2020-10-25 }}</ref> She was named Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation by Premier John Horgan on November 26, 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=2023-03-27 }}</ref> She was then appointed Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation by Premier David Eby on December 7, 2022.<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><ref>{{Cite news |title=B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet with Niki Sharma, Katrine Conroy and Ravi Kahlon in top posts |url=https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/bc-premier-david-eby-new-cabinet |access-date=2023-03-21 |date=2022-12-08 |first=Katie |last=deRosa |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |language=en-CA}}</ref>
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,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-ridings-bc-provincial-election-1.7330828 |title=B.C. has new ridings for the 2024 election. Here's a look at them |publisher=CBC News |agency=The Canadian Press |date=2024-09-23 |accessdate=2025-01-06 }}</ref> where she was re-elected MLA.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10820292/bc-election-ministers-win-lose-ndp/ |title=B.C. election: All but 3 NDP cabinet members projected to win re-election |publisher=Global News |first=Sean |last=Boynton |date=2024-10-20 |accessdate=2025-01-06 }}</ref> She was subsequently named Minister of Finance in November 2024.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bc-ndp-cabinet-swearing-in-2024-1.7386565 |title=27 cabinet ministers sworn in as B.C.'s new NDP government takes power |publisher=CBC News |first1=Courtney |last1=Dickson |first2=Katie |last2=DeRosa |date=2024-11-18 |accessdate=2025-01-06 }}</ref> The government's 2026 provincial budget forecasted a record deficit of over $13 billion and implemented public sector job cuts over three years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-budget-2026-9.7094451 |title=B.C. budget includes tax increases, 15K public job cuts, projected $13B deficit |publisher=CBC News = |last1=McElroy|first1=Justin |date=2026-02-17 |accessdate=2026-02-17 }}</ref>
Bailey was married to environmental economist Basil Stumborg, with whom she has three children.<ref name="BCB241107">{{Cite web |title=Way of the JEDI: How Brenda Bailey is using her entrepreneurial past and tech experience to move the BC NDP forward |url=https://www.bcbusiness.ca/people/government/brenda-bailey-minister-jedi-jobs-economic-development-innovation-entrepreneur-women-tech-bc/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |date=2024-11-07 |first=Nathan |last=Caddell |publisher=BCBusiness |language=en-CA}}</ref> Her current spouse is Bijan Sanii, CEO of BC fintech company INETCO.<ref name="BCB241107"/>
== Electoral record == {{2024 British Columbia general election/Vancouver-South Granville}} {{British Columbia provincial election, 2020/Vancouver-False Creek}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category|Brenda Bailey}} * [https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/members/42nd-Parliament/Bailey-Brenda Legislative Assembly of British Columbia] – Brenda Bailey
{{British Columbia MLAs}} {{Eby ministry}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Brenda}} Category:Living people Category:21st-century Canadian businesspeople Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians Category:British Columbia New Democratic Party MLAs Category:Businesspeople from Vancouver Category:Canadian businesspeople in the computer industry Category:Canadian chief executives in technology Category:Canadian technology company founders Category:Canadian people in the video game industry Category:McGill University alumni Category:Members of the Executive Council of British Columbia Category:Ministers of finance of British Columbia Category:Politicians from Vancouver Category:People from Nanaimo Category:University of Victoria alumni Category:Women MLAs in British Columbia Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia