Brenda Bailey

The Honourable
Brenda Bailey
MLA
Campaign portrait, 2024
Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation of British Columbia
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 14, 2026
PremierDavid Eby
Preceded byJosie Osborne
In office
December 7, 2022 – November 18, 2024
Preceded byRavi Kahlon (Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation)
Succeeded byDiana Gibson
Minister of Finance of British Columbia
In office
November 18, 2024 – August 14, 2026
PremierDavid Eby
Preceded byKatrine Conroy
Succeeded byJosie Osborne
Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation of British Columbia
In office
November 26, 2020 – December 7, 2022
PremierJohn Horgan
David Eby
Preceded byRick Glumac (Technology)
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Member of the British Columbia Legislative Assembly
for Vancouver-South Granville
Vancouver-False Creek (2020–2024)
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 24, 2020
Preceded bySam Sullivan
Personal details
Born1966 or 1967 (age 58–59)[1]
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
PartyNew Democratic
SpouseBijan Sanii
Alma materMcGill University (BA)
University of Victoria (M.S.W.)
Occupation
  • Businesswoman
  • politician

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.

Life and early career

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]

Bailey was married to environmental economist Basil Stumborg, with whom she has three children.[10] Her current spouse is Bijan Sanii, CEO of BC fintech company INETCO.

Political career

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.[11] She was named Parliamentary Secretary for Technology and Innovation by Premier John Horgan on November 26, 2020.[12] She was then appointed Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation by Premier David Eby on December 7, 2022.[13][14]

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,[15] where she was re-elected MLA.[16] She was subsequently named Minister of Finance in November 2024.[17] The government's 2026 provincial budget forecasted a record deficit of over $13 billion and implemented public sector job cuts over three years.[18]

In 2026, she was diagnosed with cancer, with Josie Osborne taking the Finance portfolio. Bailey was appointed Jobs and Economic Growth minister during her treatment.[10]

Electoral record

2024 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-South Granville
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticBrenda Bailey17,20864.31+7.0
ConservativeAron Lageri6,67824.96+24.5
GreenAdam Hawk2,87210.73-5.9
Total valid votes 26,75899.79–
Total rejected ballots 550.21
Turnout 26,813
Registered voters
New Democratic notional hold Swing -8.8
Source: Elections BC[19][20]
2020 British Columbia general election: Vancouver-False Creek
Party Candidate Votes%±%Expenditures
New DemocraticBrenda Bailey11,48446.77+6.30$47,212.32
LiberalSam Sullivan9,21737.54−4.62$85,582.35
GreenMaayan Kreitzman3,10812.66−3.11$9,079.62
ConservativeErik Gretland4651.89–$1,126.02
LibertarianNaomi Chocyk2801.14+0.27$0.00
Total valid votes 24,554100.00–
Total rejected ballots 2010.81+0.08
Turnout 24,75551.06−4.62
Registered voters 48,482
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +5.46
Source: Elections BC[21][22]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hui, Stephen (September 11, 2009). "Geek Speak: Brenda Bailey, chief operating officer of Deep Fried Entertainment". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  2. 1 2 McKeon, Lauren (December 9, 2014). "Breaking the code: Tech's sexism problem". Flare, via Chatelaine. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  3. 1 2 McCabe, Daniel. "Previous 'Do-Gooder' Becomes Video Game Leader". McGill University. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Introducing Brenda Bailey: MLA for False Creek". Between The Bridges. False Creek South Neighbourhood Association. November 6, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ Kyllo, Blaine (July 20, 2010). "Canada's first women-owned video game company, Silicon Sisters, created in Vancouver". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Braganza, Chantal (March 8, 2011). "Silicon Sisters developing games for women". thestar.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Brenda Bailey". New Democrat BC Government Caucus. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
  8. ↑ Duchart, Paul (November 3, 2016). "Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland Luminary Award Soirée 2016". BC Business. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  9. ↑ "DigiBC announces appointment of Brenda Bailey as its new executive director". DigiBC. February 13, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Caddell, Nathan (November 7, 2024). "Way of the JEDI: How Brenda Bailey is using her entrepreneurial past and tech experience to move the BC NDP forward". BCBusiness. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  11. ↑ Fumano, Dan (October 25, 2020). "B.C. election results: NDP flips False Creek, takes nine of 11 Vancouver seats". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  12. ↑ Lindsay, Bethany (November 26, 2020). "New faces join B.C.'s new cabinet, while stalwarts stay on in key roles". CBC News. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  13. ↑ "New cabinet ready to take action on cost of living, health care, housing, climate" (Press release). Office of the Premier of British Columbia. December 7, 2022. Retrieved December 9, 2022.
  14. ↑ deRosa, Katie (December 8, 2022). "B.C. Premier David Eby unveils new cabinet with Niki Sharma, Katrine Conroy and Ravi Kahlon in top posts". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  15. ↑ "B.C. has new ridings for the 2024 election. Here's a look at them". CBC News. The Canadian Press. September 23, 2024. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  16. ↑ Boynton, Sean (October 20, 2024). "B.C. election: All but 3 NDP cabinet members projected to win re-election". Global News. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  17. ↑ Dickson, Courtney; DeRosa, Katie (November 18, 2024). "27 cabinet ministers sworn in as B.C.'s new NDP government takes power". CBC News. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
  18. ↑ McElroy, Justin (February 17, 2026). "B.C. budget includes tax increases, 15K public job cuts, projected $13B deficit". CBC News =. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  19. ↑ "Provincial Voting Results".
  20. ↑ https://globalnews.ca/news/10779128/bc-election-2024-results-vancouver-south-granville/
  21. ↑ "Statement of Votes — 42nd Provincial General Election" (PDF). Elections BC. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  22. ↑ "Election Financing Reports". Elections BC. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
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