George Abbott was appointed Minister of Health on June 16, 2005.

He previously served as Minister of Community, Aboriginal and Women's Services and Minister of Sustainable Resource Management.

Mr. Abbott also served as deputy house leader for the Official Opposition and was critic for municipal affairs and for forests.

He was Deputy Chair of the Select Standing Committees on Forests, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and was a member of the Select Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs. He also sat on the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Crime.

He was first elected in 1996 to represent the riding of Shuswap and was re-elected in 2001 and 2005.

Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Abbott was a political science instructor at Okanagan University College. He also owned the oldest and largest berry farm in the Interior.

He received his bachelor of arts from the University of British Columbia and his master of arts in political science from the University of Victoria.

Mr. Abbott was the chair of the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District. He was also involved in amateur sports as a minor hockey coach.

George and Lesley Abbott live in Sicamous and have three children.