36 Facts About Michelle Mungall

Michelle Mungall is a Canadian politician, who represented the Nelson-Creston electoral district Legislative Assembly of British Columbia from 2009 to 2020.

Michelle Mungall is a member of the British Columbia New Democratic Party and was first elected as a Member of the Legislative Assembly in the 2009 election and re-elected in the 2013 and 2017 elections.

Michelle Mungall led the government through amending several energy, mines and petroleum resource-related acts, including implementing recommendations from a comprehensive review of BC Hydro.

Michelle Mungall introduced two private member bills: Poverty Reduction and Economic Inclusion Act which would have required the government development a poverty reduction strategy, and amendments to the Private Career Training Institutions Act to bring supervision of English as a foreign or second language schools under that act.

Michelle Mungall was born and raised in St Albert, Alberta.

Michelle Mungall graduated from Paul Kane High School and then attended the University of Alberta in Edmonton, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 2001.

Michelle Mungall was an underdog, with the race expected to be close between the incumbent Progressive Conservative Mary O'Neill and the Liberal challenger Len Bracko.

Michelle Mungall quickly integrated into the community and ran for city council in the November 2002 election.

Michelle Mungall was identified as a wildcard in the race, not expected to win because of her inexperience and being new to Nelson, but expected to do well as she ran a very strong campaign.

Michelle Mungall finished third, gaining her one of the six council seats.

From 2003 to 2005, Michelle Mungall worked at the Nelson Food Cupboard.

Michelle Mungall opted not to stand for re-election in the 2005 municipal election, citing a desire to further her education.

Michelle Mungall returned to Nelson in 2007 and worked first at the Nelson and District Youth Employment Resources Center, then at a microfinance organization called the Circle of Habondia Lending Society, then for the Nelson Committee on Homelessness.

Michelle Mungall submitted her dissertation in March 2009 and was awarded a Master of Arts degree by Royal Roads University.

Michelle Mungall married Zak Matieschyn on July 23,2011, in Kokanee Creek Provincial Park.

Michelle Mungall gave birth to her son Zavier July 21,2018.

In 2008, after Nelson-Creston Member of the Legislative Assembly Corky Evans announced he would not seek re-election, Michelle Mungall entered the race for the BC NDP nomination.

Michelle Mungall faced three other candidates, but only the BC Liberal candidate, long time rural director at the Regional District of Central Kootenay and former chair of the Columbia Basin Trust Josh Smienk was considered to be a serious challenger to Mungall.

Michelle Mungall's campaign focused on issues surrounding the local economy, independent power producers, and health care.

On local issues, Michelle Mungall hosted a public meeting on the controversial Glacier-Howser hydroelectric project which was undergoing environmental assessment, which she would later oppose, she delivered a 3,000 signature petition to the legislature advocating for improvements to the Kootenay Lake Hospital and hired an intern from the University of British Columbia to research food security in the Kootenays.

Michelle Mungall was a vocal opponent to the proposed Jumbo Glacier Ski Resort and together with her BCNDP colleagues questioned the government on their creation of a town with no population.

Michelle Mungall was selected for the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services in the first and second sessions which engaged in budget consultations across the province.

Michelle Mungall spent time as chair of the NDP's Women's Caucus which monitored women's issues In December 2009-January 2010, she and her husband visited Cambodia and participated in training of local women who were preparing for an upcoming election.

In November 2011, Michelle Mungall introduced her first piece of legislation, a private members bill entitled the Private Career Training Institutions Amendment Act.

Michelle Mungall received more votes than her opponents, the Liberal's Greg Garbula and Green's Sjeng Derkx combined.

Michelle Mungall has taken on the role of Opposition Deputy House Leader and from 2013 to 2014 was the Chair of the Opposition Social Policy Committee.

In 2014 Michelle Mungall championed a highly publicized and ultimately successful campaign to end the BC Government practice of clawing back child support payments from single parents receiving social assistance or disability payments.

In 2015, Michelle Mungall successfully took on another Liberal clawback, this time one that took away EI maternity benefits from families on income assistance.

Michelle Mungall fought alongside advocates for people with disabilities to raise the rates and keep the bus pass program and the government responded.

Michelle Mungall publicly noted that the increase was approximately the same as the previous years increase in cost for the disability bus pass.

Michelle Mungall sought re-election again in the 2017 election against Kim Charlesworth of the BC Green Party and Tanya Rae Wall of the BC Liberal Party.

Michelle Mungall was again re-elected with her party forming the Official Opposition, but this time in a BC Liberal minority government.

In February 2018, as the Minister responsible for mining, Michelle Mungall established a BC Mining Jobs Task Force to review exploration and mining in BC to find ways to strengthen the mining industry.

Michelle Mungall became the fourth MLA to give birth while in office and second Cabinet minister.

Michelle Mungall's son was then the first baby on the floor of the legislature when Michelle Mungall introduced him October 16,2018 to the House.

In September 2020, amid speculation of a snap election, Michelle Mungall announced that she would not be seeking re-election.