15 Facts About Ben Stewart

Benjamin Richard Stewart is a Canadian politician, who has represented the riding of Kelowna West in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2018 until 2024 as a member of BC United.

Ben Stewart previously represented the riding of Westside-Kelowna from 2009 to 2013.

Ben Stewart was first elected in the 2009 provincial election.

Ben Stewart was a proponent of attracting tourism to the Okanagan, as well as promoting exports of British Columbia wine.

Ben Stewart served as the marketing chair of the BC Wine Institute, chairman of the Vintners Quality Alliance, and as a member of the UBC Okanagan Advisory Council.

In 2008, following MLA Rick Thorpe's decision not to stand in the next provincial election, and following the re-alignment of electoral boundaries to create the Westside-Kelowna riding, Ben Stewart sought to be the BC Liberal Party candidate.

Ben Stewart won the nomination and was the BC Liberal candidate in the 2009 provincial election.

Ben Stewart campaigned on an economic platform: that the BC Liberals in power would be more beneficial for the provincial economy than a New Democrat government.

Ben Stewart responded with the statement that the bureau was following protocol regarding the release of information during an election campaign and that the same bureau withheld a report showing positive job growth during the month of April 2009, a month prior to the election.

Ben Stewart has spoken favourably about local purchasing and considered re-establishing the "Buy BC" program.

Ben Stewart signed a memorandum of understanding with the federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Gail Shea for regulating aquaculture as a "shared responsibility".

In late 2010, a comprehensive review of the Agricultural Land Commission was done and recommendations submitted to Ben Stewart who said he would review the report and discuss with fellow cabinet ministers before making it public.

Ben Stewart served on the Special Committee on Cosmetic Pesticides, the Select Standing Committee on Legislative Initiatives, as well as on the BC Liberals Priorities and Planning Committee and Legislative Review Committee.

Ben Stewart departed the $150,000 salaried position on December 30,2016, and the position was not re-filled.

In 2018, Ben Stewart returned to politics following Clark's resignation from the legislature and ran to succeed her in a February 14,2018 by-election in what is Kelowna West.