Rick Thorpe was appointed Minister of Small Business and Revenue and Minister Responsible for Regulatory Reform on June 16, 2005.

He previously served as Minister of Provincial Revenue and Minister of Competition, Science and Enterprise.

Mr. Thorpe previously served as Official Opposition critic for small business, tourism and culture. He was chair of the Select Standing Committee on Public Accounts and deputy chair of the Select Standing Committee on Parliamentary Reform, Ethical Conduct, Standing Orders and Private Bills. He also sat on the Select Standing Committees on Legislative Initiatives, and on Finance and Government Services, as well as the Official Opposition Caucus Committee on Economy.

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

Before his election to the Legislative Assembly, Mr. Thorpe worked in the Canadian brewing industry for 22 years in a variety of senior management positions in Canada and internationally. He was then involved in repositioning the B.C. grape and wine industry, and was a partner in an Okanagan winery for five years.

Mr. Thorpe is a certified management accountant and was president of the Okanagan Wine Festival in 1994 and 1995.

He has three children, two granddaughters and one grandson.