Michael de Jong was appointed Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation on Aug. 15, 2006.

He is also Government House Leader.

Mr. de Jong has previously served as Minister of Labour and Citizens’ Services and Minister of Forests. Prior to that, he was deputy house leader for the Official Opposition and served as a critic for a variety of portfolios.

Mr. de Jong was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in a 1994 byelection to represent the electoral district of Matsqui. He was re-elected in 1996 and again in 2001 to the new riding of Abbotsford-Mount Lehman, where he was again re-elected in 2005.

Before his election, Mr. de Jong practised as a lawyer in his Abbotsford firm. He holds a bachelor of arts degree from Carleton University in Ottawa and a law degree from the University of Alberta.