{{Short description|Canadian politician}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}{{Self-published|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | party = BC Conservatives | honorific_suffix = MLA | office = Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for Peace River South | term_start = October 19, 2024 | predecessor = Mike Bernier }} '''Larry Neufeld''' is a Canadian politician who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia in the 2024 British Columbia general election. He represents the electoral district of Peace River South as a member of the Conservative Party of British Columbia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coombes |first=Caitlin |date=2024-10-19 |title=Larry Neufeld wins Peace River South |url=https://energeticcity.ca/2024/10/19/larry-neufeld-wins-peace-river-south/ |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=Energeticcity.ca |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ravelli |first=Angelina |date=2024-10-20 |title=Larry Neufeld takes out heavyweight MLA as Conservative blue wave sweeps Northeast B.C. |url=https://www.cjdctv.com/larry-neufeld-takes-out-heavyweight-mla-as-conservative-blue-wave-sweeps-northeast-b-c-1.7080147 |access-date=2024-10-23 |website=CJDC-TV |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and career == Neufeld was raised in northern Saskatchewan as the eldest son of a first-generation farmer.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Larry Neufeld at Conservative Party of BC |url=https://www.conservativebc.ca/larryneufeld |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Conservative Party of BC |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Hansard Content {{!}} Legislative Assembly of BC |url=https://www.leg.bc.ca/hansard-content/Debates/43rd1st/20250306am-House-Blues.htm |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=www.leg.bc.ca}}</ref> He has earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Engineering and undertook graduate studies in the same field.
At 29 years old, Neufeld was appointed Vice President of Western Canada's largest environmental remediation contractor.<ref name=":0" /> He founded his own company in 2006. He is also a former Reserve Infantry Platoon Commander.<ref name=":0" />
As of 2024, Neufeld resides in Peace River South, along with his wife and three children.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />
== Political career == In November of 2023, Neufeld was nominated as the Conservative Party of BC's candidate for the riding of Peace River South.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prentice |first=Jordan |date=2023-11-15 |title=B.C. Conservative Party announces nominee for Peace River South |url=https://energeticcity.ca/2023/11/15/b-c-conservative-party-announces-nominee-for-peace-river-south/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Energeticcity.ca |language=en-CA}}</ref> Neufeld declined to attend the planned election forum in his riding, prompting incumbent BC United candidate Mike Bernier to criticize his absence.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Coombes |first=Caitlin |date=2024-10-03 |title=Peace River South candidate defends debate absence |url=https://energeticcity.ca/2024/10/03/peace-river-south-candidate-defends-debate-absence/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Energeticcity.ca |language=en-CA}}</ref> However, Neufeld stated that his focus during the campaign period was to "engage with voters directly at the doors".<ref name=":2" />
Neufeld went on to win a seat in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia with 69.8% of the votes, unseating incumbent Mike Bernier, who ran as an independent after BC United suspended its campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ernst |first=Trent |date=2024-10-25 |title=South Peace elects Larry Neufeld as MLA - Tumbler RidgeLines |url=https://tumblerridgelines.com/2024/10/25/south-peace-elects-larry-neufeld-as-mla/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Judd |first=Amy |date=August 28, 2024 |title=Kevin Falcon moves to suspend BC United's campaign, will work with BC Conservatives |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/10719653/kevin-falcon-fold-bc-united-party-suspend-campaign/ |access-date=2025-03-21 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> Following the election, Neufeld was appointed to the official opposition's shadow cabinet as critic for natural gas and LNG.<ref name=":0" />
== Electoral record == {{2024 British Columbia general election/Peace River South}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== See also ==
* 43rd Parliament of British Columbia
== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.conservativebc.ca/larryneufeld}} * [https://www.leg.bc.ca/members/43rd-Parliament/Neufeld-Larry Legislative Assembly of British Columbia profile] {{British Columbia MLAs}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Neufeld, Larry}} Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:British Columbia Conservative Party MLAs Category:21st-century members of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
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